‘Robot linesmen’ to be at 2022 World Cup in Qatar after successful FIFA trials

A new semi-automated offside system is set to be used at the 2022 World Cup after FIFA carried out successful trials.

The technology, which has been nicknamed "robot linesmen", uses 10 cameras to track 29 body parts of each player, with 3D animations showing the decisions on big screens in stadiums. FIFA tested it at the Arab Cup last year and the Club World Cup in February.

There were positive signs that its use would speed up the current VAR lines process which has been a source of frustration for football fans in recent times. So according to The Sun, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is keen to introduce it in Qatar later this year.

It's expected that it will be discussed at next week's general meeting of the law-making International FA Board. The annual event was originally due to take place in March, but was delayed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

However, the final decision about its use at the World Cup will only be made after there has been a full analysis of the trials. Former official and now chairman of FIFA’s referee committee Pierluigi Collina has been working on the limb-tracking system.

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He has dismissed the suggestions of it being a robot-led operation, saying earlier this year: “Someone called it robot offside – it’s not.

"The referees and the assistant referees are still responsible for the decision on the field of play. The technology only gives them valued support to make more accurate and quicker decisions, particularly when the offside incident is very tight and very difficult.”

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