FA release official update on major change that will impact Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Wolves & co

Newcastle United’s upcoming FA Cup clash with Brighton will feature the introduction of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT), marking a significant step in English football’s adoption of advanced officiating tools.

Alongside six other FA Cup matches this weekend, games hosted at Premier League stadiums will implement SAOT for the first time in the competition’s history. The only fixture missing out on this advancement is the Lancashire derby between Burnley and Preston North End, although that match will still operate under the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

While VAR has not been utilized in earlier rounds of this season’s FA Cup, it will now be implemented from the Fifth Round onward.

SAOT has been in use across UEFA competitions since its introduction at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Initially set to be integrated into the Premier League, its implementation has faced delays.

However, this weekend’s trial run could accelerate its introduction to England’s top flight before the season concludes. Earlier this month, the FA confirmed plans to test SAOT during the Fifth Round and has since provided insight into how the system functions, as well as what fans watching in stadiums and at home can expect.

To operate effectively, SAOT relies on newly installed cameras positioned around Premier League venues. The FA has explained that up to 30 specialized cameras have been mounted in each stadium, with some recording footage at an impressive 100 frames per second—double the frame rate of standard broadcast cameras.

These cameras meticulously track the movement of the ball while also monitoring up to 10,000 surface mesh data points per player. This sophisticated system enables SAOT to determine whether any attacking player involved in a build-up phase was in an offside position, automatically flagging potential infractions within the software and relaying them to the VAR officials and SAOT operators.

When SAOT is used to make a decision, fans in attendance at St. James’ Park and those watching from home will see a visual representation of the ruling.

This will be displayed both on the stadium’s giant screen and on television broadcasts, ensuring transparency in the decision-making process. The FA has detailed that these visuals will feature 3D virtual replays, with each team’s players distinguishable by their respective kits.

If a player is deemed offside, a red line will indicate the infraction, while an onside ruling will be displayed with a green line. A white vertical wall will represent the offside threshold, accompanied by a blue pulse that highlights the relevant body part of the defender.

When an attacking player is offside, the portion of their body that has crossed the offside line will be outlined in red against the white virtual wall. The final 3D image will be presented from an off-center angle, ensuring a clear perspective of both the attacker and the defender involved in the decision.

The blue pulse will no longer be visible in the final image. Unlike previous VAR offside reviews that often overlaid graphics onto live footage, SAOT’s replay system cuts directly to a dedicated visualization, allowing for a quicker and more precise display of decisions.

This weekend’s FA Cup Fifth Round schedule includes several high-profile matchups alongside Newcastle’s fixture against Brighton. Aston Villa will face Cardiff City in an evening kickoff, while Crystal Palace and Millwall meet in an early Saturday encounter.

Preston North End and Burnley will contest their Lancashire derby without SAOT, but VAR will still be in place. Bournemouth hosts Wolves, Manchester City welcomes Plymouth Argyle, and Manchester United clashes with Fulham in what promises to be a competitive slate of fixtures. The round concludes with Nottingham Forest taking on Ipswich Town in a primetime Sunday evening matchup.

With the footballing world closely monitoring its implementation, the success of SAOT in these FA Cup fixtures could pave the way for its full introduction in the Premier League.

Given the system’s ability to provide more accurate and efficient offside rulings, its potential widespread adoption represents a major step forward in the evolution of officiating technology.

For Newcastle and the other teams involved, the presence of SAOT ensures that crucial decisions are made with the highest level of precision, reducing controversy and enhancing the integrity of the game.