Match officials at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 are all set to be assisted by the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) system, enhancing decision-making in all 51 matches of the tournament. This marks the first use of SAOT at an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competition, making the AFC the first Confederation in world football to employ the system at the Continental Men’s national team level.
Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) to debut in AFC Asian Cup 2023
Scheduled for January 12 to February 10, 2024, in Qatar, the introduction of SAOT complements the full debut of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in AFC Asian Cup. This is following its successful use from the Quarter-final stage in the 2019 edition in the United Arab Emirates.
What is Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT)?
The SAOT system, subjected to rigorous testing in line with FIFA protocols, utilizes 12 specialized cameras strategically placed to precisely track the position of the ball and players on the field. It focuses on determining the position of limbs and other body parts relevant to offside decisions. This technology enables accurate and rapid position checks through artificial intelligence.
When a player perceived to be offside receives the ball, an alert is sent to the VAR, who can promptly check the position using automatically drawn offside lines. The final decision, validated by the VAR, is then communicated to the on-field referee. The referee maintains the authority to make the ultimate decision on the field.
Upon completion of the decision-making process, the data points used to determine a player’s position will be transformed into a 3D animation displayed on giant screens at the stadiums and provided to TV broadcasters, offering transparent insight for fans.
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