Semi-automated offside technology to be used for FA Cup fifth round in English football first

Semi-automated offside technology will be used in competitive English football for the first time during the fifth round of the FA Cup, along with VAR.

Seven of the eight ties are being played at Premier League grounds and they will see the use of the system which aims to ‘enhance the speed and efficiency’ of calling offsides.

The semi-automated offside technology has been tested over the past two seasons and helps officials place the virtual offside line when analysing tight calls, with the help of player tracking. It also produces virtual graphics for viewers in the stadium and at home.

The Premier League had intended to introduce the technology into top-flight matches after the October or November international breaks this season but those plans were delayed. If it is a success in the FA Cup, semi-automated offside technology could still be introduced to the Premier League this season.

VAR will also be used across the eight FA Cup ties, with in-stadium announcements from officials being made after decisions.

FA Cup fifth round ties – to be played weekend of March 1

Aston Villa vs Cardiff – VAR and semi-automated offside technology

Bournemouth vs Wolves – VAR and semi-automated offside technology

Crystal Palace vs Millwall – VAR and semi-automated offside technology

Man City vs Plymouth – VAR and semi-automated offside technology

Man Utd vs Fulham – VAR and semi-automated offside technology

Newcastle vs Brighton – VAR and semi-automated offside technology

Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich – VAR and semi-automated offside technology

Preston vs Burnley – VAR only

Why hasn’t semi-automated offside technology been used in the Premier League?

Semi-automated offside technology is not new to football – a version of it was used during the 2022 World Cup – but a planned autumn 2024 introduction to the Premier League never materialised.

Speaking last week, Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes said they have been developing a different system which they believe will be a success in the long term.

He said there had been “significant progress” made over the last four to six weeks.

“The system that we’ve adopted, we believe it to be the best system,” he said.

“We believe it to be the most accurate and the most future-proof system as well. I have to confess, given the difficulties that we had over the first few months of the season, I had severe doubts about this but the progress made over the last four to six weeks has been significant.”

Scholes insisted introducing it with potentially only a handful of games to go would not create an integrity issue.

“The operation of semi-automated offside technology does not change the integrity of the offside law and doesn’t change the integrity of decision-making,” he said.

“We have got 100 per cent accuracy [on offside after VAR checks] this season, so it won’t improve the accuracy. What it does is make the process more efficient.”

Controversial FA Cup decisions – is football better with or without VAR?

There was a series of controversial decisions across the fourth round of the FA Cup, with VAR not in use at that point.

Leicester City and Birmingham were among the clubs rueing the fact VAR is not used in the FA Cup until the fifth round onwards.

Earlier this month, the Premier League revealed data which appeared to show the accuracy is improving, stating there had been 13 VAR errors from 70 interventions this term, compared with 20 from 61 at the same stage last season.

The Premier League also claims 100 per cent of offside decisions in the top flight have been correct this season.

That will be of little comfort to Leicester supporters, who were convinced Harry Maguire was offside when he scored Man Utd’s late winner to knock them out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

Birmingham fans, meanwhile, will point to a goal for Newcastle where the whole of the ball did not appear to go over the line, while Chelsea’s appeals for handball at Brighton were unable to be examined – although the officials ultimately made the right call in that incident.

Read more about those decisions and how VAR could have affected the outcome of those ties.