FIFA is testing a new wave of officiating technology designed to reduce some of football’s most contentious moments, with innovations aimed at determining whether the ball has gone out of play and clarifying complex offside decisions.
The developments were trialled during three Intercontinental Cup matches in Qatar this month and form part of FIFA’s continued effort to improve accuracy, speed and transparency in decision-making, particularly for video assistant referees (VAR).
Central to the trials is a system known as “Out of Bounds” technology. Using advanced tracking data similar to that employed in semi-automated offside, the innovation can determine with far greater precision whether the whole of the ball has crossed the touchline or goal line before a goal is scored.
Such incidents have been a recurring source of controversy in domestic leagues, especially the Premier League. In recent seasons, VAR has sometimes lacked the correct camera angles to conclusively prove whether the ball was still in play, leaving officials to rely on inconclusive evidence and fuelling fan frustration.
One of the most notable examples came two seasons ago when Arsenal were left incensed after a goal by Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon was allowed to stand. VAR could not definitively show that Joe Willock had taken the ball out of play in the build-up, highlighting the limitations of existing broadcast cameras.
FIFA believes the new “Out of Bounds” system could eliminate such uncertainty. By using precise tracking points embedded in the ball and aligned with multiple reference points around the pitch, officials can make objective decisions even when traditional camera angles fail.
The technology is still in offline testing, but its reliability was demonstrated during the Intercontinental Cup. Paris St-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz saw a goal ruled out in the final against Flamengo after VAR confirmed the ball had crossed the line earlier in the move, using the new system.
Alongside this, Fifa has expanded its “Real-time 3D Recreation” technology to assist with one of the most debated aspects of offside law: line-of-sight interference. This enhancement creates two virtual feeds that replicate the perspectives of both goalkeepers, allowing officials and broadcasters to better judge whether an attacking player was blocking a goalkeeper’s view.
Line-of-sight offsides have caused confusion and disagreement across Europe this season. A recent example involved Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze scoring against Tottenham, with debate over whether Leandro Trossard was obstructing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Decisions like these often rely on subjective interpretation, something Fifa hopes the new visuals can clarify.
The 3D recreations are available not only to VAR officials but also to television audiences, a move aimed at improving transparency and helping fans better understand decisions that are frequently labelled inconsistent.
Fifa has also continued trials of immediate audio offside alerts sent directly to assistant referees. First introduced at the Club World Cup earlier this year, the system notifies officials instantly in clear offside situations, reducing the need for delayed flags.
Delayed offside calls have drawn increasing criticism, not just for disrupting the flow of the game but also for posing safety risks. In May, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a serious injury after colliding with a goalpost while play continued despite an obvious offside in the build-up. He was later placed in an induced coma, prompting renewed scrutiny of current protocols.
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