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Fans who were disgruntled about the inaccuracy of human refereeing decisions have long awaited this technology, which follows extensive non-live testing in the league and live trials in this season’s FA Cup. The technology will officially make its top-flight debut at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City hosts Crystal Palace in the day’s early kick-off on April 12th.
In essence, SAOT automates certain aspects of the offside decision-making process, supporting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) by using optical player tracking to place the virtual offside line with greater efficacy. Up to 30 high-speed cameras, operating at 100 frames per second, track the ball and capture 10,000 data points per player, pinpointing the exact “kick-point” and player positions. The system also displays a 3D graphic visual, making it much clearer for fans to understand the consequent decisions.
The technology was developed in collaboration with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and Genius Sports. The Premier League Chief Football Officer Tony Scholes emphasized that they have full confidence in the tech: “We are not going to introduce it if we’ve got any doubts at all with regards to its operation,” and called it “the most accurate and future-proof system.” Its successful use in global competitions — such as the Champions League since 2022-23, Serie A since January 2023, and Euro 2024 — already proves its usefulness.
However, the rollout hasn’t been without its hiccups. Initially slated for earlier in the 2024-25 season after unanimous club approval in April 2024, the launch was delayed beyond planned autumn international breaks due to refinement needs. Notably, in the FA Cup debut on March 1, 2025, an eight-minute VAR check disrupted Bournemouth’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The FA had warned that SAOT might struggle with crowded goalmouths, and in that instance, it failed to function, forcing officials to revert to manual line drawing. Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola voiced frustration, saying “Something has not been working well because they’ve decided to put it almost at the end of the season.”
Despite such challenges, the Premier League remains committed to the rollout of SAOT. On April 12, alongside Man City vs. Crystal Palace, matches like Arsenal vs. Brentford (5:30 p.m.) and others will debut the technology.
