Sports
Argentina Adopts Genius Sports’ Semi‑Automated Offsides System for First Division
By Joe Lemire
Genius Sports has extended its partnership with the Argentine Football Association to deploy semi‑automated offsides technology (SAOT) in the country’s top‑tier league, the Liga Profesional de Fútbol. The system will first be used in the Clausura final on December 12, with full league‑wide rollout scheduled for the summer of 2027. Steve Burton, Genius’ chief commercial strategy officer, said SAOT will “make officiating faster, more accurate and more transparent,” and that the tracking system will also provide data‑driven insights for teams, broadcasters and fans. This marks the sixth major competition to receive Genius SAOT, following the Premier League, Liga MX, Brasileiro Série A, CONMEBOL, and the Belgian Pro League. SAOT operates on the same camera installation and computer‑vision algorithms that power GeniusIQ, the ball‑and‑player tracking system used for advanced data collection. Genius claims that the average offsides decision takes 30 % less time with its SAOT. FIFA first introduced SAOT at the 2022 men’s World Cup, using Hawk‑Eye as the tracking provider, but Genius has since become the leading provider in the professional league market.
Frequently asked questions
When will the semi‑automated offsides system first be used in Argentina?
The system will first be used in the Clausura final on December 12.
Which major competitions have already adopted Genius SAOT?
Premier League, Liga MX, Brasileiro Série A, CONMEBOL, and the Belgian Pro League.
How much faster are offsides decisions with SAOT?
The average offsides decision takes 30 % less time with SAOT.