World Cup To Use Semi-Automated Offside Technology

FIFA has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will use semi-automated offside technology. The system will use 12 dedicated multi-tracking cameras, which will track the ball and multiple points of each player. These cameras are “100% synchronized” to a sensor in the middle of the ball, which will determine the exact point the ball is kicked. The system was trialed at last year’s Arab Cup and Club World Cup with great success. The system was said to have reduced the time taken to make offside VAR decisions from 70 to 25 seconds. Fifa's head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, says the role of the referee is still important in the decision-making process. "Our goal is to get referees taking decisions correctly on the field. If something wrong should happen, the referee may take advantage of the technology to get a better vision of what happened, Pierluigi Collina," FIFA's Head Of Refereeing.