Premier League to Introduce Semi-Automated Offside Technology with Genius Sports

The Premier League has appointed Genius Sports Limited as its official Semi-Automated Officiating (SAOT) supplier, bringing cutting-edge technology to enhance offside decision-making in the league.

The new system, powered by Genius Sports’ AI and data platform, GeniusIQ, is scheduled to be installed in every Premier League stadium and is expected to be operational by the 2024/25 season.

GeniusIQ utilizes advanced computer vision cameras to generate full 3D renders of all players, the ball, and the offside line within seconds. This innovative system is designed to boost the speed and accuracy of offside decisions, minimizing game interruptions. The Premier League anticipates that the new technology will drastically reduce the time needed for offside rulings and ensure a consistent application of offside lines across all matches.

Tony Scholes, Premier League Chief Football Officer, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, "The introduction of semi-automated offside is an important move to maintain the flow of the game in the Premier League. We are confident that by using the newest and most accurate technology available, we will see the time taken for offside decisions reduced significantly alongside a consistent application of the offside lines."

Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports, also expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, "I am thrilled that Genius Sports is now the Premier League’s Semi-Automated Officiating supplier. This is a seismic moment for our business, as we bring our unique AI and data platform GeniusIQ to the world’s most watched league."

Genius Sports has a longstanding relationship with the Premier League, providing data and technology services, including powering the Premier League Data Zone, which delivers live tracking insights and statistics. This new agreement extends their existing collaboration, with Genius Sports’ AI-powered data being utilized by all 20 Premier League teams.

The announcement of the SAOT system coincides with Genius Sports reporting a 23% increase in revenue, reaching $119.7 million for Q1 2024. The company has also secured exclusive betting rights with Football DataCo until 2029 and launched AI-powered in-game highlights in partnership with Brentford FC.

By fLEXI tEAM