DOHA
\nA semi-automated offside system could be used at this year\u2019s world cup with the International Football Association Board, the guardian of the laws of the game, set to discuss the introduction of the technology in Doha on Monday.
\nFootball lawmakers to discuss implementation of technology at this year\u2019s World Cup in Qatar
\nThe optical tracking system was trialled at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and had also been tested at the Arab Cup in Qatar last December.
\nThe IFAB will not itself decide whether the technology should be in place at the World Cup but if it offers approval then world football\u2019s governing body could go ahead with its introduction.
\n\u201cThe semi-automated offside system still needs to be evaluated before a final decision is taken,\u201d FIFA\u201d AFP told, adding that it was simply \u201can additional tool to help the VAR\u201d.
\nPierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA\u2019s referees committee, said earlier this year that the introduction of Video Assistant Referees first used at the World Cup in 2018 had been \u201cvery successful\u201d but that making offside decisions semi-automated would mean greater accuracy and greater speed.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s important the video officials get an accurate decision, but we are aware we need to reduce the time, particularly with offside,\u201d Collina said in February during the trials at the Club World Cup.
\nThe data-driven, limb-tracking technology uses both dedicated and broadcast cameras around the stadium to give the exact position of players on the pitch, offering referees precise information within seconds.
\nThe aim is for the system to generate 29 data points per player \u2013 tracking the various parts of the body to create a skeletal, three-dimensional model.
\nOnce a final decision is made, the artificial-intelligence driven technology turns the images into a 3D animation that can be displayed on the big screen at grounds.
\nThe term \u201csemi-automated\u201d is used because FIFA insist that match officials will still make the final call, with a dedicated VAR assistant in place to monitor offsides.
\n\u201cI know that someone called it \u2018robot offside\u2019; it\u2019s not. The technology is simply a tool used by human beings,\u201d said Collina.
\nMonday\u2019s meeting will also discuss the topic of concussion substitutes, which the IFAB approved in late 2020 on a trial basis for any league wishing to take part until August of this year<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DOHA A semi-automated offside system could be used at this year\u2019s world cup with the International Football Association Board, the guardian of the laws of the game, set to discuss the introduction of the technology in Doha on Monday. Football lawmakers to discuss implementation of technology at this year\u2019s World Cup in Qatar The optical […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":265902,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[808,8468,8467,382],"class_list":{"0":"post-265885","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-offside","10":"tag-semi-automated","11":"tag-world-cup"},"yoast_head":"\n