The Premier League will finally implement Semi-Automated VAR Offside Technology (SAOT), with its debut scheduled for Matchweek 32 on the weekend of April 12-14.
The decision comes almost a year to the day since clubs unanimously voted to introduce the technology.
Delayed Launch, But “Significant Progress” Made
Originally planned for an earlier rollout in 2024, SAOT was delayed due to testing issues.
However, Tony Scholes, the Premier League’s Chief Football Officer, confirmed in February that the league had made “significant progress” and was hopeful for a launch before the season’s end.
“The system that we’ve adopted, we believe it to be the best system. We believe it to be the most accurate and the most futureproof system as well, and that’s why we went with that,” Scholes stated.
SAOT was first tested in non-live Premier League games before being used in FA Cup fifth-round and quarterfinal matches.
Controversial First Use in FA Cup
One of the first matches featuring SAOT, Bournemouth vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, produced the longest-ever VAR review in English football, lasting a staggering eight minutes.
The delay was caused by two separate handball checks and technical difficulties, as the technology struggled with players standing too close to each other.
The VAR officials eventually had to revert to the old software, which remains in place as a backup system.
How SAOT Aims to Improve VAR
The introduction of SAOT is expected to reduce the time taken for offside decisions by an average of 31 seconds.
Despite concerns over the Premier League developing its own version rather than adopting FIFA and UEFA’s model, Scholes defended the league’s decision:
“I have to confess, given the difficulties 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.”
“We believe we’re going to be adopting the best and most accurate system without the need for a chip in the ball.”
Premier League vs. FIFA & UEFA Systems
FIFA and UEFA have used an enhanced SAOT system in tournaments such as the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League, featuring a chip inside the ball to detect the exact moment of contact.
However, Adidas owns the patent for that technology, and none of the major European leagues use Adidas as their ball supplier.
Other Leagues Have Already Made the Switch
Serie A was the first European league to introduce SAOT in January 2023, following a high-profile VAR error that saw a stoppage-time Juventus winner wrongly disallowed.
LaLiga followed at the start of the 2023/24 season, though its accuracy has been questioned, notably when Robert Lewandowski had a goal incorrectly disallowed for Barcelona against Real Sociedad.
With VAR controversies still a major talking point in England, the Premier League will be hoping that SAOT improves decision-making without creating new controversies—but only time will tell if it delivers on its promise.
