The Premier League is set to introduce a new offside detection system for the 2024/25 season, powered by a network of smartphones instead of traditional VAR.
Developed by Genius Sports, a sports data and technology company, along with its subsidiary Second Spectrum, the new tool, named Drago, aims to enhance the accuracy of often contentious offside decisions and other crucial in-game calls.
The introduction of VAR systems in football initially faced resistance, with the technology’s shortcomings frequently leading to frustration among fans.
Previous motion-capture systems, even those used in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, had limitations, such as obstructed views due to player positioning, and could only report basic metrics. This often resulted in less accurate decisions, causing outrage among fans.
Drago seeks to address these issues by utilizing multiple iPhones to provide a more comprehensive view of the field, capturing more angles and data.
The system will employ at least 28 iPhone 14s, or newer models, strategically placed around stadiums to capture multiple angles.
These iPhones will record high-frame video of the match from various perspectives, housed in waterproof cases equipped with power sources and cooling fans.
The videos will track between 7,000 to 10,000 points on each player, which will then be processed by a machine learning algorithm to deliver real-time data on player movements.
With advanced cameras capable of analyzing up to 200 frames per second, Drago surpasses traditional broadcast video in precision, offering enhanced accuracy in determining the timing of actions—particularly in offside decisions, an increasingly contentious area with less advanced VAR systems.
Despite offering more advanced insights, the underlying technology is more accessible and cost-effective than traditional tracking systems. Additionally, the setup is flexible, allowing Genius Sports to adapt the design as needed.
As with VAR, the final decision will rest with the referee, while the AI-powered Drago system will provide detailed support and analysis.
