This will be VAR and the semi-automatic offside

This Wednesday the RFEF announced the bases for the VAR operator of Spanish competitions in the First Division from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027. Due to the contract with the current provider Hawk Eye, as we are moving forward with MD, it will end this coming June 30.

They will be the requirements set by the RFEF, the tournament that has just been launched regarding professional football includes separate competitions in the First Division; Second Division which includes Play-offs for promotion from Second to First Division.

You must also submit a proposal for 17 Copa del Rey matches from the round of 16 onwards in addition to 3 Spanish Super Cup matches.

In addition to this initial offer, the final VAR operator must also include a series of mandatory services that:

– VAR simulator with video clips.

. – VOR room duplicate system.

– Private streaming system. The economic valuation of this section will be done for all the matches of the men’s competitions

In addition, the future provider must also include all of these services:

1.-When required by CTA RFEF, use VAR simulator system to prepare referees with video clips

2.-When required by the CTA of the RFEF, use a system to duplicate the VOR room in an independent room for the preparation of referees and operators by duplicating the match in off-line mode, in at least six against. end of the week.

3.- Provision of private Streaming Service consisting of Program visualization and VAROutput signals of all matches, including audio of all members of the refereeing team, for a minimum number of six CTA instructors

4.- Technical tasks necessary for the implementation of the service, including the phase of integration of systems, visits to stadiums, studies and training, and the phase of testing until the correct implementation

5.- Advice and ability to implement new needs, be it in the technical-refereeing aspect such as utilities and applications aimed at the public and viewers, as well as improvements required or requested by the RFEF.

This is how the semi-automatic offside system should be

The bases also include a semi-automatic system to help make decisions on offside plays. Although this, as specified in the document itself, companies bidding for VAR and this technology must present an economic assessment of this system, indicating the cost for the Men’s First Division and which they must indicate the full installation of all elements required. in stadiums with their use in 380 matches of this competition. The RFEF will pay the monthly price of the services rendered, against the presentation of the corresponding invoice within a maximum period of 1 month from the presentation of the said invoice.

Minimum of twelve cameras to monitor movement

In the same document, it is clarified that this system must have at least twelve cameras that monitor the movement of the players and the ball, located in the stadium and independent of the television production signal. You must ensure that it completely covers the surface of the pitch. It must also provide software capable of accurately identifying up to 29 data points for each player, 50 times per second, calculating their exact position on the pitch. The 29 data collection points include limbs and extremities relevant to determining player positions on offside plays or having the ability to see every ball hit by a player.

In addition, it must identify the position of the 22 players at each hit of the ball, so that it can identify attacking players in an offside position, as defined in the Laws of the Game and is capable of combining the tracking of the players’ body and the ball using artificial intelligence systems, to provide an automatic offside alert to video assistant referees inside the VOR room, when the attacker receiving the ball is in an offside position, as soon as a teammate touches the ball. It will also need to produce a 3D animation that perfectly details the position of the players at the time the ball is played, using the exact same positional data points used to make the decision. This re-enactment will take place once the field referee has confirmed the decision. The animation will show the best possible prospects for the offside situation.

Finally, it should also make the 3D animation created for confirmed offside play available on giant screens in stadiums and on television broadcasts, so that all viewers can find out.