DOHA: FIFA are confident semi-automated technology to assist with quicker Video Assistant Referee decisions could be ready for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, world football’s governing body president Gianni Infantino said on Monday.

Trials on the AI technology will continue in the coming months but Infantino said there was significant progress.

“We tested it at the Club World Cup and it looks very good. We are very satisfied and we will take decision before the tournament,” Infantino told a news conference in Doha after the meeting of the International Football Association Board, which regulates the Laws of the Game.

Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee, added: “I’m confident it can go ahead.”

Semi-automated VAR, which will enable offside to be detected in seconds, uses automated ball detection and creates three-dimensional models of a players position instantly.

The system monitors 29 data points on the limbs of players to create a skeletal, three-dimensional model that is reviewed pitchside by the referee.

English Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said that more than eight million data position points are recorded each match.

FIFA is also looking into introducing a Video Assistant Referee ‘light’ with fewer cameras to a wider number of competitions.

VAR is currently only used at international tournaments and major national championships.

Tests on the less-tech heavy, cheaper system have already been held at 100 matches in Europe and will now be extended.

IFAB ratified, as expected, the use of five substitutes into the Laws of the Game.

It was first introduced as a tweak to the rules because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has now become permanent although its use in different competitions will remain at the discretion of the body organising the matches.

The Premier League, for example, had allowed five substitutes when the idea was first floated by FIFA in May 2020 but reverted back to three subs for their last two seasons. They have, however, agreed to five substitutes being permitted from next season.

It was also decided to increase the maximum number of substitutes on the bench from 12 to 15 — again at the discretion of the competition organising body.

These changes come into effect on July 1.

IFAB also discussed attacks on referees and the possibility of body cameras being worn which would act as a deterrent as well as evidence collection.

“Lack of respect for referees and their safety were identified as global problems,” said an IFAB statement. “The members agreed to establish initiatives to tackle these issues including potential trials with body cameras worn by referees in adult grassroots football.”

The English FA has particularly pressed for experiments to start.

“Referees will profit from the possible protection, which sadly still takes place in many parts of the world,” Infantino said. “We have attacks on them from players, officials, spectators and parents and we have to be very firm in that respect.”

He also said more trials on tweaking the offside law and making decisions less marginal would continue in junior tournaments in Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Also finding ways for better time keeping would be trialled. “It is not acceptable that a game of 90 minutes actually only have the ball in play for 47-48 minutes on average. We have to look into that,” Infantino added.

IFAB — made up of the game’s founding national associations from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland with FIFA — also ordered more trials on the use of concussion substitutes.

Growing concern has been raised about the impact of head injuries on players — with many suffering from dementia and Parkinson’s disease in later.

Some 140 national championships and competitions are taking part in current trials and the board said these would continue until August 2023.

“The members agreed that trials should continue to focus on permanently removing any player with actual or possible concussion to ensure this player does not continue taking part in the match,” said the statement. “It was agreed that further education is needed to ensure that trial protocols are applied correctly.”

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2022