Semi-automated offside: final tweaks | OneFootball

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) sent an official letter last Thursday (25) to the clubs and state federations taking part in the Brazilian Série A Championship. In this document, the entity requests the use of the competition’s stadiums during rounds 7 and 8 of the Brazilian U-17 Championship. The purpose of this request is to complete the implementation tests for semi-automated offside technology (SAOT).

Holding these matches in Série A stadiums will allow the final validation tests of the system to be carried out under real match conditions. Internet signals, hardware validation, network connectivity with the cameras, calibration, system validation during matches with full operational flow, monitoring, and performance confirmation under real conditions will all be assessed and verified.

Semi-automated offside technology is installed at Arena da Baixada Credits: Duda Matoso/ Athletico-PR

For Júlio Avellar, CBF’s Competitions Director, semi-automated offside represents a milestone in Brazilian football.

“The implementation of semi-automated offside technology will be a major qualitative leap for football in Brazil. Before putting it into operation in the Brazilian Série A Championship, the CBF chose to go through every validation stage rigorously — installation, calibration, and testing under real match conditions — precisely because we understand that a technology of this magnitude needs to reach the field with absolute security and reliability. By investing 25 million reais in this project, the CBF places Brazilian football alongside the world’s top competitions. This is the path to bringing more transparency to decisions and giving fans and clubs the certainty that, under this administration, we are committed not only to sporting fairness on the field, but also to improving the product,” said Júlio.

Competitions Director Julio Avellar during a meeting with match officials from across the country to align plans for the 2026 seasonCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

With technological support from Genius Sports, the company hired to implement semi-automated offside, the CBF has been carrying out the installation in all stadiums designated by the clubs in the Brazilian Série A Championship. This technology, the same one used in UEFA and FIFA competitions and in the world’s top leagues, with an investment by the CBF of around 25 million reais, is intended to increase transparency, ensure greater accuracy in refereeing decisions on the field, and reinforce sporting fairness.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.