QATAR 2022: FIFA APPROVES SEMI-AUTOMATED OFFSIDE TECHNOLOGY FOR WORLD CUP

July 1, 2022

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FIFA 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar will be the first time semi-automated offside technology is used in Qatar 2022 in an effort to improve the speed and accuracy of decisions.

The system will allow video match officials to get offside alerts, with decisions manually verified before being relayed to the on-field referee. It was successfully tested at the FIFA Club World Cup last year and at the FIFA Arab Cup in 2021.

Communication with fans inside stadiums will also be improved with a 3D animation displayed on big screens, and to television viewers at home, showing how the offside decision was reached.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: “Semi-automated offside technology is an evolution of the VAR systems that have been implemented across the world.

“This technology is the culmination of three years of dedicated research and testing to provide the very best for the teams, players and fans who will be heading to Qatar later this year.

“FIFA is committed to harnessing technology to improve the game of football at all levels, and the use of semi-automated offside technology at the FIFA World Cup in 2022 is the clearest possible evidence.”