Following the use of new technology created by FIFA over the previous three years, VAR offside rulings at the World Cup will be quicker and more precise, according to referees boss Pierluigi Collina.
In Qatar, FIFA technology promises quicker, more accurate offside rulings
Even the closest offside rulings will be resolved faster under the new system’s “semi-automatic offside technology,” and a 3D animated representation of the occurrence will be shown to spectators both inside the stadium and on television. Collina told reporters at a press conference prior to the competition, “(It) provides us the opportunity to be speedier and more precise in terms of judgements concerning offside.”
“Just to be clear, being faster does not imply that we will be able to determine offside instantly. Undoubtedly, it will be less than it is today, but we are unable to respond instantly or practically live. One thing I want to emphasise is that the match official, whether it be the referee on the field of play or the VAR, always has the last say.
In order to make an extremely precise determination of when the pass was played, 12 cameras in each stadium will monitor 29 spots on the bodies of each participant. A sensor within the match ball will also relay data to the VAR operations centre 500 times per second. All of the venues hosting World Cup games have already used the new technology in test matches and at two FIFA tournaments.
Holzmueller stated that Qatar will have access to the prior offside technology, but only as a backup. According to Collina, his staff visited each of the 32 team camps and briefed all 32 team coaches over two workshops in order to reinforce their message to the players.
Everything that may put another player’s health in jeopardy, such as elbows to the face, studs-up tackles, and dangerously high feet, was to be punished with a red card, according to referee instructions.
According to Collina, FIFA was particularly concerned to guarantee that players got the most playing time possible and had given referees instructions to precisely time stoppages and add minutes to the conclusion of a half. He answered, “This is nothing new. It became extremely common for the fourth official to display the board with seven, eight, or nine minutes remaining at the most recent World Cup in Russia.