FIFA Implements Semi-automated Offside Technology At The Qatar World Cup, What's That?

Illustration of World Cup matches (Photo: Twitter/@SaudiNT)

The International Football Federation (FIFA) implemented a new technology called semi-automated offside for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. This technology was used to complement the use of the Asistant Referee (VAR) Video.

Quoted by VOI from the official FIFA website, Sunday, November 27, 2022, semi-automated offside technology can help the VAR team to make offside decisions more quickly and accurately, thus helping the game flow run more smoothly.

FIFA President Giani Infantino said semi-automated offside technology is the evolution of the VAR system that has been implemented worldwide.

At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, FIFA took a bold step to use VAR technology on the world's biggest stage, and it proved undisputed success. Semi-automatic offside technology is the evolution of the VAR system that has been implemented worldwide, "Gianni said.

He claims that this technology is the culmination of three years of research and special testing to provide the best for the team, players and fans at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Developed by FIFA since 2019, the semi-automatic offside detector has only been used in world cup events for the first time. Previously, semi-automated offside had been piloted in several events, such as the 2021 FIFA Arabic Cup and the 2021 Club World Cup.

This technology work mechanism is by immersing the chip in the middle of the ball. In addition, a semi-automatic offside detector is also supported by a special camera stationed around the stadium to track up to 29 different parts of the player's body.

In addition, cameras installed under the roof of the stadium also take 50 data points from player movements per second to calculate the players' exact positions on the ground. The 29 points of data collected include all relevant body parts and extremities for offside calls.

Next, FIFA also installed 12 other cameras under the roof of the stadium to track the ball's movement. This camera also helps determine whether the attacking player was in front of the last defender during the game.

Not only cameras, the use of semi-automated offside technology is also supported by the official Qatar 2022 World Cup Al Rihla ball. The reason is, this ball is equipped with an inertial measurement unit sensor to be able to help detect offside.

The sensor chip is placed in the middle of a ball that functions to send the ball data to the video operating room up to 500 times per second. Thus, kick point detection can be done appropriately and accurately in 2022 World Cup matches.

In its application, the inclusion of player and ball leg tracking data and supported by artificial intelligence will provide automatic offside warnings at match officials in the operating room. The warning will be sent whenever the ball is received by an attacker who is in an offside position.

After receiving a semi-automatic offside warning, video match officers in the operating room will validate the decision, before informing the referee in the field. FIFA claims this whole process can be done in seconds.

When the referee blew the offside whistle, the system will immediately display 3D images to show the location of the attacker and defender while the game is underway. This 3D image will then be displayed on the in-stadium screen, and shared with FIFA broadcast partners to inform all spectators in the clearest possible way possible.

This is information about the semi-automated official technology implemented by FIFA at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.