The semi-automatic offside recognition system makes its debut
New Technology Assists World Cup Officiating (Green Look)
Our reporter Liu Shuoyang Tao Xiangan “People’s Daily” (November 24, 2022 version 13)
“Even if some offsides are ‘millimetres’, this is new technology and we have to move forward,” said Argentine coach Scaloni. He has reason to be frustrated: on the evening of November 22 Beijing time, in the first round of group C of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Saudi team beat favorite Argentina 2:1, achieving an upset result. After the Argentine team scored the first goal in the first half to take the lead, Messi and Lautaro broke the opponent’s goal three times, but were all ruled invalid for offside.
What “blocked” these goals was the “new technology” in Scaloni’s mouth: the semi-automatic offside recognition system. It was officially launched for the first time at the World Cup and this technology performed very “cool” in the first 4 games.
In the opening match of this World Cup at 00:00 on November 21 Beijing time, the semi-automatic offside detection system played a role in the second minute by accurately recognizing that Ecuadorian player Estrada was in an offside position when received the ball According to this, the referee invalidated Ecuador’s blitz goal. “I think this is a goal. Estrada might need to cut his toenails,” Ecuadorian coach Alfaro joked after the match.
The fingernail distance is a joke but not an exaggeration. Through 12 special cameras installed under the roof of the stadium, the semi-automatic offside recognition technology keeps track of 29 body points related to the offside determination on each player on the field, and sends the data an average of 50 times per second, so as to realize the recognition of people and precise real-time positioning of the ball. Inside each World Cup ball is a sensor that sends data to the video assistant referee 500 times per second.
During the match, when an offside forward receives a pass from a team-mate, the semi-automatic offside recognition system sends an alert to the video assistant referee and automatically generates an offside line. Informs the referee that all this can be done in way little time. On November 30, 2021, the FIFA Arabian Cup became a “testing ground” for this technology and received good feedback. This new technology has also been adopted in the Champions League, Europa League and other competitions this season.
Just 3 days before the start of this World Cup, many goals have been “rejected” from it, although it seems a bit “cruel”, but it is also an effort to ensure fair competition. “This technology allows referees to make decisions faster and more accurately,” said Collina, president of the FIFA Refereeing Committee.
In this World Cup, every time the semi-automatic offside recognition system intervenes in the game, the image of the offside line drawing generated by it will appear on the stadium’s big screen and present to the audience. Even fans who watch matches through platforms such as the Internet and TV can feel the changes that technology has brought about.
In a match, which side is more offensive than both sides? Is it a penetration in the centre, a long pass over the top or is he more used to crossing after a lateral breakthrough? Which player has broken through the opponent’s defense more times and who has successfully completed the most interceptions… Compared to the simple data of the past, the real-time data provided by this World Cup is richer and more specific.
This is due to the new “Enhanced Football Intelligence Information Service” provided by FIFA. This system was developed and designed by a professional team of FIFA. Forced errors and other 11 different aspects provide data, so that the public can analyze the game progress more intuitively.
In the new statistics of this World Cup, the ball possession rate has added another “contest” option compared to the previous “oo” of the two teams, a detail that reflects that the current statistics are more refined.
Looking back 12 years ago, in the 2010 South Africa World Cup round of 16 match between England and Germany, England player Lampard’s wonderful shot had clearly crossed the goal line, but the goal was ruled invalid. It was this controversial goal that prompted the official adoption of goal line technology in 2013. The use of video assistant referees was discussed in late 2014, which was launched at the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
The use of the semi-automatic offside recognition system has also been buzzing since the World Cup in Russia. The World Cup is a four-year competition and a stage for the application of many new technologies.
