A picture of draw balls in different pots during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 Play-offs Round Draw at the UEFA headquarters, The House of European Football, on August 2, 2022, in Nyon, Switzerland. (Photo by Kristian Skeie – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
UEFA will introduce semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) in the Champions League in the 2022/23 season, making it the latest technological innovation to be introduced into the competition.
UEFA made the announcement on Wednesday, noting that SAOT would be put to initial use for the Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt Super Cup on August 10.
"UEFA is constantly looking for new technological solutions to improve the game and support the work of the referees,” UEFA Chief Refereeing Officer Roberto Rosetti said in a statement.
"This innovative system will allow Video Assistant Referee (VAR) teams to determine offside situations quickly and more accurately, enhancing the flow of the game and the consistency of the decisions.”
UEFA has already incorporated the use of other technological innovations, including the VAR and goal line technology.
UEFA's announcement comes following FIFA's declaration last month that SAOT would be deployed for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year.
(With input from agencies)