JFF’s referees boss welcomes new offside system
Published:Tuesday | July 19, 2022 | 12:14 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
FIFA, football’s world governing body, will implement a semi-automated offside system to enhance the effectiveness of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at the 2022 World in Qatar in November.
Chairman of the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) referees department, Victor Stewart, said the new technology, which promises nearly full accuracy, is welcome, especially in dealing with arguably the most controversial rule in the game.
Stewart told The Gleaner that up until the 1990s match officials had to use their naked eye and sense of judgement to make marginal calls, and the former referee recalled that this was no easy task.
“Identifying a player that is barely ahead of a defender is not an easy call. That moment the ball is played and a player interferes with play is subject to error. So the introduction of this technology is very welcome because this is the most controversial call in football. Unless it is clear like day,” he reasoned.
The automated system uses tracking cameras to track the ball and 29 data points of each player, 50 times per second, while calculating their exact position. The data points include all limbs and extremities relevant for making offside calls.
Also, adidas’ official match ball for the 2022 World Cup, the Al Rihla, will detect tight offside incidents. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor is placed in the ball and will send data to the video operation room 500 times per second, to allow the precise detection of the kick point.
AUTOMATED OFFSIDE ALERT
Whenever the ball is received by an attacker who was in an offside position, the moment the ball was played, an automated offside alert will go to the video match officials.
Both the automated offside and ball connect technology were successfully tested at the 2021 Arab Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
After a decision has been confirmed, it will be replayed on screens in the stadium and spectators informed in the clearest possible way on the decision.
However, Stewart said this the new technology will require public education, as offside decisions will continue to be a very sensitive subject.
“We have to move with technology because this is the way the world is going, so you will have to educate the public,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Stewart is hopeful VAR will be available locally in the next two years.
“It is work in progress and we are optimistic in year or two, we could be looking at VAR in Jamaica. We are getting personal training to man VAR and a lot of the technology is here. “But VAR comes with a lot of other requirements and approval from FIFA and Concacaf.
“If we are to implement VAR at the premier league level it will be difficult because our stadiums are not VAR friendly,” he said.