For the first time in the history of English football, semi-automated VAR technology will be used to determine offside. This will take place during the matches of the fifth round of the FA Cup in March. Originally, there was a plan to use a tracking system with artificial intelligence after the international breaks at the start of the current season, but due to testing issues, the implementation of VAR was postponed.
"We are pleased to announce that for the first time VAR technology will be used in the context of the FA Cup," said Tony Scholes, head of the English Football League last week. In this case, VAR will be applied in seven of the eight matches scheduled for March 1-2 as part of the sixth round of the Cup.
Representatives of the English Football League expressed hope that VAR technology will effectively determine offsides within 31 seconds. It is proposed that after assessing the results in the context of the FA Cup, the technology could be implemented in the Premier League.
Semi-automated VAR technology was first tested at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
