Sports

Argentina to Deploy Semi‑Automated Offside System at December 12 Final

By OffsAIde

The Argentine Football Association announced that a semi‑automated offside system will be installed at Estadio Único de La Plata for the Torneo Clausura final on 12 December. The decision was made during a meeting of senior AFA officials, who also approved the format for the 2027 Primera División. Argentinos Juniors president Cristian Malaspina praised the upgrade and said the provider had presented very positive proposals. He added that, given the implementation schedule, the system will be installed in every top‑flight stadium from the second half of next year. Although the AFA had originally planned general use for 2027, work has accelerated. Officials aim to introduce the system early in the Copa Argentina final, where Platense will face the winner of Boca versus Banfield, and in the Recopa de Campeones in January 2027. The system uses a dozen tactical tracking cameras to capture the ball’s exact position and records up to 29 data points per player, focusing on limbs that determine offside. The ball itself carries an internal sensor that transmits the instant of contact. This data is cross‑checked in real time by artificial intelligence to detect offside autonomously, sending an alert to the video booth so VAR can validate decisions faster and reduce human error. The technology has already been used in elite competitions, including the UEFA Champions League since the 2022/2023 season and the last two FIFA World Cups. Its rollout in Argentina marks a significant step toward modern, transparent reviews of complex incidents.