Semi-automated offsides postponed until new year

Introduction of the technology, which was used at the Euros, put on hold as the Premier League opts for more testing

Semi-automated offside technology may not be launched in the Premier League until next year.
The league had planned to introduce the technology after one of autumn’s international windows but Telegraph Sport has been told leading figures sought to “manage expectations” of clubs about that timeline during their first shareholders’ meeting of the season on Thursday, suggesting more testing was required.
The news follows the row over whether a goal conceded by Leicester City in their 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace should have been ruled offside, something semi-automated technology would arguably have prevented.
Its introduction was approved by clubs in April, since when testing has taken place of a Genius Sports system the league believes could speed up the length of the average VAR check for offside by 31 seconds.
Last week Steve Cooper accused Professional Game Match Officials Ltd of using “false images” after what the Leicester manager described as an “awful human error” during his side’s draw at Palace.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was awarded a goal at Selhurst Park after the video assistant referee had overturned the on-field offside decision of referee Tony Harrington. Leicester were enraged at the decision, the first in a two-goal comeback by Palace.
The club told PGMOL, the referees’ organisation, it had chosen the wrong frame for the “kickpoint” – the moment at which the ball was played to Mateta.
Speaking at a press conference, Cooper said: “It was an awful human error. It’s been hidden in the media. That has been as disappointing as the error itself. We have seen images that show he clearly was offside. But they froze it at the wrong time. Everything that has been seen has been a false image.
“We showed the Premier League that they used the wrong image. We had a massive error go against us. We don’t want it to go under the radar because that’s not fair to the players or the supporters. Errors like that shouldn’t happen. It’s why we’re changing to semi-automated [offsides]. We felt very let down by it. We needed to stand up for the club and tell the Premier League what we thought.”
He added: “We asked them to explain [the decision] and it confirmed they were wrong in terms of when they stopped the game. It’s not been near the media. Everything you’ve seen on Match of the Day or Sky was wrong. We showed them [PGMOL] that, but they’ve not come back to us since.”
PGMOL said it considered the decision made by the VAR team to have been correct.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s Premier League shareholders meeting also saw clubs given a largely positive update on officiating and reminded about their obligations around player behaviour.