Latest news with #Matchweek32
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Robots waving flags?
On a cold but crisp April afternoon, the Etihad Stadium buzzed with anticipation. Not just because Manchester City were hosting Crystal Palace, but the real star of Matchweek 32 wasn't a player, it was the all-new Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT), making its Premier League debut. Fans craned their necks, but not just for Erling Haaland's runs or the through balls of Kevin De Bruyne, but for the giant screens that would display SAOT's verdict, a moment years in the making. The journey to this day began a year ago, when Premier League clubs gave a green light to SAOT after some pretty heated debates. But the promises of quicker, more accurate offside calls, by shaving an average of 31 seconds off VAR's tedious reviews, won them over. Tested in the FA Cup and fine-tuned by Genius Sports, SAOT's 30 high-speed cameras and AI-driven tracking were ready. Yet, a chorus of doubt could still be heard on the terraces from fans, after-all, Video Assistant Referees are less popular than the human whistleblowers, if that is even possible. Advertisement In the 22nd minute, Palace's Eberechi Eze slipped a pass to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who slotted the ball past Ederson. The linesman's flag stayed down, but the stadium held its breath. At Stockley Park, VAR officials watched SAOT spring to life. Cameras captured 10,000 data points, mapping Mateta's shoulder against Kyle Walker's boot in picoseconds. A 3D replay flashed vividly on the screens: a red line marked Mateta offside by just a hair. The goal was disallowed. The crowd roared, those in 'Citeh' blue, in some relief, but so did Palace fans, but in frustration, the call though, was clear, swift, and undeniable. For soccer fans it was a revelation. No more squinting at blurry VAR TV screens, sipping on a halftime Bovril. The fans in the stadium can see the call, and it's concluded so quickly, unlike some very lengthy deliberations that previously tarnished the beautiful game. The technology may not be perfect; complex plays still needed human eyes, but it felt like progress and a step in the right direction. By full-time, City's 3-1 win was secondary to SAOT's flawless debut. Social media buzzed with clips of the offside call, fans marveling at the crisp graphics. Pundits, though, cautioned that SAOT wouldn't fix VAR's deeper woes, like subjective fouls. Still, as the sun set over Manchester, the Premier League felt a shift. A new era had begun, one where technology promised clarity, even if football's heart remained gloriously, messily human.
NBC Sports
14-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Extended HLs: Bournemouth v. Fulham Matchweek 32
Watch full-match highlights from Fulham's visit to the Vitality Stadium to take on Bournemouth in the last fixture of Matchweek 32.
NBC Sports
13-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Lowe Down: Salah in his prime is better than Kane
Rebecca Lowe answers Gary Neville's and Robbie Mustoe's most-pressing questions from Matchweek 32, including her thoughts on Manchester United, Ange Postecoglou's future at Spurs, and more.
NBC Sports
12-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Extended HLs: Nottingham Forest v. Everton MWK 32
Watch full-match highlights from Nottingham Forest's Matchweek 32 showdown with Everton at the City Ground.
