FA Cup matches witness lengthy VAR checks despite semi-automated offside technology
- Semi-automated offside technology debuted in English football during the FA Cup fifth round matches.
- Despite aims to cut decision time, a lengthy delay of over seven minutes occurred during a VAR check in one match.
- Criticism arose from fans regarding the efficiency of the technology as it struggled to meet expectations.
In a significant development for English football, semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) was introduced for the first time during matches held in the fifth round of the FA Cup. This technology, designed to expedite and enhance the accuracy of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) checks on offside decisions, uses a combination of player tracking and thirty in-stadium cameras to automatically determine offside positions. Previous systems involved manual placements of offside markers, but with SAOT, the creation of these markers is automated, which is expected to reduce decision-making time by approximately thirty seconds. Despite the anticipated benefits, the implementation of SAOT in the match between Bournemouth and Wolves faced scrutiny when a goal check took seven minutes, much longer than the expected reduction in time. This incident drew criticism from fans who found the delay frustrating, leading them to chant that it was