La Liga to Implement New Automatic Offside Technology Next Season

La Liga President Javier Tebas has confirmed upcoming changes to how offside decisions are made, starting from next season. The current "Semi-Automatic Offside Technology" (SAOT) has faced criticism for instances where it lacked clarity.

Over the past 18 months, issues have emerged with SAOT, particularly in situations with many players grouped closely together. On several occasions, the offside lines generated by the system have incorrectly identified players or parts of their bodies, making it difficult to distinguish between them. In such cases, VAR officials have had to manually draw the lines, often leading to further debates about the accuracy of the chosen frame.

Tebas Announces 'Automatic Offside' System for La Liga

During a Monday event in Las Rozas, where the Referees Union signed new agreements with the RFEF and La Liga, Tebas revealed plans for "automatic offside" technology potentially as early as next season.

“We are implementing automatic offside; we will see if it is ready for next year. Currently, there is semi-automatic, but I don’t like ‘semi’,” Tebas told Marca. He explained that the new system would involve a FIFA-approved chip inside the ball to detect when it is struck, along with a specialized camera system in stadiums.

“This would be fully automatic offside, removing the need for the controversial frames. The approval process still needs to be completed, and we have to coordinate with which ball brands are used across the leagues. But it is one of the key technological objectives we are targeting for next season,” he added.

The Controversial Pau Cubarsi Disallowed Goal

One notable example of SAOT's shortcomings involved a disallowed goal for Pau Cubarsi during the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. While the final decision deemed Cubarsi offside, the VAR review took a lengthy eight minutes to conclude. This extended pause not only frustrated Barcelona but also significantly disrupted the game's flow and rhythm.