The Football Association has announced a significant rule change that is expected to have a significant impact on Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Wolves, and other teams.

The Football Association has announced a significant rule change that is expected to have a significant impact on Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Wolves, and other teams.So far this season, the Magpies have emerged victorious over Birmingham City and Bromley in the FA Cup.

 

 

In the Fifth Round, they will host Premier League opponents at St James’ Park. Although the dates and times of the eight ties scheduled to be contested that weekend have not yet been confirmed, the FA has made a significant announcement that will affect seven of those game.

 

 

 

The FA has disclosed that “Semi-Automated Offside Technology” will be implemented in the Fifth Round of games that are being contested at a Premier League stadium. This implies that the technology will not be utilized in the Lancashire derby between Preston North End and Burnley.

 

 

 

Semi-automated offside technology was initially implemented at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and has since been implemented in the Champions League, La Liga, and Serie A. The objective of the technology is to expedite VAR reviews for offside by automating the process through the utilization of customized cameras.

 

 

 

The Premier League could incorporate the technology if the trial is successful in the upcoming round of the FA Cup. The implementation of semi-automated offside technology in the top-flight of English football has been postponed; however, it is possible that it will be implemented by the conclusion of the current season.

 

 

 

The FA has discontinued the use of VAR in the Third and Fourth Rounds of the FA Cup, and it will be implemented in the Fifth Round. Consequently, the weekend of March 1 will witness the implementation of both VAR and semi-automated offside technology during Newcastle United’s match against Brighton.

 

 

 

FA VAR and semi-automated infraction statement The FA issued a statement stating that “Video Assistant Referees [VAR] will be active across all eight ties of this season’s Emirates FA Cup fifth round proper.”

 

 

 

Following an exhaustive testing period that occurred during the 2024-25 season, the new technology will be implemented in the Emirates FA Cup fifth round in partnership with the Premier League and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited [PGMOL].

 

 

 

The Premier League intends to implement the system later this season following its successful live operation in the Emirates FA Cup. The virtual offside line will be more efficiently placed with the help of semi-automated offside technology, which is based on optical player tracking.

 

 

 

This technology will also generate virtual graphics to improve the in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters. The accuracy of the decision-making process is not affected by the operation of Semi-Automated Offside Technology; however, it improves the speed and efficacy of the process.