UEFA has confirmed that the Champions League will use a camera-based system to judge offside calls in the group stage of this season’s competition.
The semi-automated stealth technology, approved last month by FIFA for the World Cup in Qatar, uses multiple cameras to track players’ limbs and the moment of a key pass.
Controversial calls occurred across Europe, where lines were drawn on screen for fringe calls that were criticized for having led to “armpit slips”.
But UEFA says the specialized system, which can monitor a player’s 29 different body points, will determine offside decisions “more quickly and accurately”.
The new technology will be used in the Super Cup match between last season’s Champions League champions Real Madrid and Europa League winner Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki on August 10, before being rolled out to the biggest club competition of the season from September 6.
“UEFA is constantly looking for new technological solutions to improve the game and support the work of referees,” UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rossetti said in a statement. “This innovative system will allow VAR teams to quickly and more accurately identify offside situations, enhancing game flow and decision consistency.”
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The board said 188 tests had been carried out since 2020, with the system checked in all matches in last season’s Champions League, the knockout stage of the Women’s Champions League and the whole of Euro 2022, as well as other club competitions. finals.
“The system is ready for use in official matches and is implemented in every stadium of the Champions League,” Rossetti added.
UEFA has also confirmed that Premier League referee Michael Oliver will take charge of the Super Cup match.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Via theathletic.com
