There have been several controversial decisions, this season alone, regarding offsides and out of play balls. Whether these decisions have been completely incorrect or unable to prove either way. The solution seems fairly simple.
The premier league ball has sensors within it and has done for the last couple of seasons. A lot of players wear the bra sensors while training and I believe in games as well. Make this mandatory. Then add sensors to the corner flags. Using these sensors, you can then identify the perimeter of the pitch, along with the position of each player as well as whether the ball has passed outside of the perimeter (out of play).
The sensors on the players will be the centre of their chests and therefore the centre of their mass. This can be used to determine offsides. Instead of punishing players for having their head or toe in front as they are in a position to run, it will be based on the centre of mass for all players. An accelerometer within the ball can then determine the exact moment the ball has been played. This along with the player sensors will take any doubt out of an offside. No longer will camera angles or VAR official mistakes take any part in these decisions.
I am not a programmer or coder but I feel it shouldn’t be that difficult to make software to read this data and show out of play balls and offsides. This makes it more in line with goal line technology which has worked perfectly (except for when it wasn’t turned on). The data can be synced with video footage to be double checked which may be needed in certain situations.
Does this seem feasible and do you think this can solve some of the issues with VAR?
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Except you can score with your foot or head and if your leg or head is significantly offsides that could be an advantage on a close ball.
I’m not sure if there is a sensor in the Nike ball, or if there is, it isn’t approved for accuracy. Only the Adidas ball at the moment is accurate enough according to FIFA to be approved for it.
Clubs voted against semi-automatic offside last season. The technology exists. I’m sure they can do it glt across the entire endline. But I couldn’t pretend to know the cost.
Simple solution they can implement immediately: be consistent. If they can’t tell if it’s handball or offside in 10 seconds, just always rule it as a no. Or a yes. Just be consistent instead of wallowing for 5 minutes.
The only correct solution is to make it semi-automated. Drawing offside lines on a picture is sth software can do faster than human and we saw it working in the World Cup
Firstly, centre of mass isn’t a fair measure. Take a 6’7” v 5’6” scenario. How do you stop the bra moving, like at all. It could rise or twist.
But that’s all academic because there’s an easier solution afoot. We will have AI eyes in the near future and that takes away the issues above, is cheaper, and inevitable.
I championed your idea for many years by the way. I think semi automated offsides start next season in Europe.