World Cup will use artificial intelligence to validate impediments

A International Football Federation (FIFA) announced that it will use new technology to make offside markings more efficient and faster during 2022 World Cup, held between November 21 and December 18 this year in Qatar. Called “semi-automatic offside”, the novelty uses artificial intelligence and promises to reduce the average time in which an offside bid is decided in the World Cup, from 70 seconds to up to 25 seconds at most.

A FIFA already tested the technology in other tournaments and ensured the success of the system, such as the Arab Cup, held in 2021, and also in the Club World Cup, played earlier this year. In addition, the feature has also been tested in university labs in the US, Australia and Switzerland. According to the head of FIFA's refereeing department, Pierluigi Collina, the tool is ready to be used.

The implementation of the novelty during the 2022 World Cup was also celebrated by Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA. For him, “This technology is the culmination of three years of dedicated research and testing to provide the best for the teams, players and fans heading to Qatar later this year, and FIFA is proud of this work as we hope the world sees the benefits of semi-automatic offside technology at the World Cup”.

Apparently, this is just one of several changes that may be implemented in the future by the entity. The idea is to work to create versions “More Affordable” of VAR, which depend on fewer cameras, in order to popularize the tool and make it viable in championships with less financial structure.

How AI detects offside at the World Cup

To work properly, the system will feature 12 dedicated tracking cameras which will be installed around the stadium, at a high height, close to the ceiling. Exclusive cameras will track 29 points from each player's body to track your movements and positions 50 times per second, broadcasting everything to the VAR room.

In parallel, the ball Al-Rihla, which will be used throughout the championship, will have an inertial sensor inside, installed exactly in the center of the ball, which will allow the system to know exactly when there was contact with the player passing the ball. If an offside player participates in the play by touching the ball, a light will come on in the VAR booth. And there will be an operator dedicated exclusively to this type of bidding.

Before informing the on-field referee, video game referees validate the proposed decision by manually checking the AI-detected kick point and offside line, based on the calculated positions of the players' limbs. This process takes just a few seconds and means offside decisions can be made faster and more accurately.

After confirming the decision, the stadium screen will show fans an animation showing the offside line with the players in their positions at the exact moment of touching the ball where the previous action took place, something very similar to what already happens in other sports. sports, such as volleyball, for example.

It is also worth noting that the technology will only be used when the offside player touches the ball; offsides marked because of interference in the goalkeeper's court, for example, will continue to be the referee's decision.

A Copa 2022 will start on November 21st and run until December 18th. Brazil is in group G, along with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon. The Brazilian team debuts on November 24, against Serbia, at 15:32 (Brasília time), at Lusail Stadium. In all, XNUMX teams will participate in the competition, including the South American teams of Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

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Sources: Forbes, Fifa.