This weekend marks a major step in the Premier League’s use of technology, with semi-automated offside technology (SOAT) set to be implemented for the first time.
Already used in recent World Cups and the Champions League, SOAT aims to speed up and improve the accuracy of offside decisions by automating the drawing of lines and identifying the precise ‘kick point’ using high-frame-rate cameras. Unlike in FIFA tournaments, which used ball-tracking chips, English football will rely solely on advanced camera systems.
Currently, VAR officials must manually draw lines and find the moment of contact, a process that takes time and can lead to inconsistency. SOAT provides instant visuals for officials to quickly review, reducing offside checks by an average of 30 seconds.
Although originally approved for the 2024/25 season, the Premier League has fast-tracked the rollout following successful tests in the FA Cup, despite a high-profile incident where a congested penalty area forced VAR to abandon SOAT mid-check, leading to an eight-minute delay.
Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes has described the adopted system as “the most accurate and future-proof,” expressing confidence in its long-term benefits despite initial hurdles.
With a full rollout beginning now, all eyes will be on how effectively SOAT improves the speed and transparency of VAR decisions in one of the world’s most scrutinized football leagues.