Three testing experts have called on the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) to suspend the semi-automatic offside detection system (SAOT) used in the Bundesliga. The specialists argue that the current system may be prone to measurement inaccuracies that have not been adequately factored into its deployment.
In an analysis reported by “Der Spiegel”, the experts concluded that a certain tolerance range must be established for the technology, similar to speed measuring devices used in traffic. They suggest this tolerance should be a minimum of 20 centimeters. When approached by “Der Spiegel”, the responsible parties for the SAOT system dismissed such demands, insisting they continue operating the technology as usual. This contradicts previous claims, as the DFL had recently stated on its website that the technique allows for determining an offside position “with millimetric precision”-a claim that has since been withdrawn.
Since the start of this season, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Bundesliga has been supported by SAOT, an AI system that uses specialized tracking cameras to determine if a player is offside. However, the system frequently results in highly contentious decisions involving only a few centimeters. The experts argue that such pinpoint accuracy is unacceptable because the system cannot guarantee that level of precision due to various underlying factors.
The impetus for this detailed investigation arose following the game between Union Berlin and FC Bayern Munich last November, during which a goal by the Berlin team was disallowed due to a marginal offside call. Norbert Barz, a Union Berlin supporter and former director of the German Accreditation Body, grew frustrated with the decision made using the Video Assistant. He initiated the analysis, which he developed alongside two other experts from the testing field, Michael Wolf and Thomas Facklam.
