The Premier League is set to replace its controversial VAR system with a new offside detection technology powered by iPhones for the 2024/25 season.
Developed by London-based Genius Sports, the system will utilise the triple-camera setup on iPhone 14 devices, strategically placed around the pitch to capture high-frame-rate video at up to 200 frames per second. These iPhones, numbering at least 28 per stadium, will provide multiple angles of the action, enabling a machine-learning system, codenamed “Dragon”, to create a three-dimensional render of each player and the offside line.
Genius Sports claims that this new system will significantly enhance accuracy by tracking between 7,000 to 10,000 data points on each player, compared to the 30-50 data points monitored by current VAR systems. The iPhones will be housed in waterproof cases with cooling fans and power sources and up to four devices can be mounted together for better coverage.
This innovative approach comes after years of frustration from players and fans over the existing VAR system, which has been plagued by delays, human error and miscommunications. Although the final offside decisions will still be made by humans, the AI-assisted system aims to reduce errors and speed up the decision-making process.
Genius Sports has not yet confirmed an official launch date for the new system, but it is expected to debut before the end of 2024 and be in use throughout the 2025 season.
[Image created via MidJourney]