The FA Cup (England's Cup), the oldest football tournament in the world, is set to take a significant step forward in the implementation of new technologies. In the upcoming fifth round, the semi-automatic offside system will be used for the first time, already in use in UEFA competitions like the Champions League. This innovation promises to be more reliable and faster than the traditional lines drawn with VAR, which could change how offside decisions are analyzed in English football.

Although the technology was initially scheduled for inclusion in the Premier League by the end of 2024, its integration was postponed. Now, the FA Cup becomes the testing ground, where its effectiveness will be assessed, and if successful, its adoption in the top tier of English football will be considered. This way, the tournament will be the first to feature this advanced tool to determine if it can be extended to the league.

The fifth round of the FA Cup, which will take place during the weekend of March 1, will be the first event to use this technology. Teams participating in this phase of the tournament, such as Manchester United, Manchester City, and Aston Villa, will be among the first to experience the new system, aimed at speeding up offside decisions.

The technology will revolutionize English football and could be adopted by the Premier League if the trial is successful

"If this trial proves successful, the Premier League will consider implementing the system throughout this season," said the FA Cup organization in a statement. This opens the door to a significant change in how offside decisions are made in English football, improving both accuracy and the speed of refereeing decisions.

In addition to the semi-automatic offside system, VAR will also be present in the FA Cup from this round, something that wasn’t the case in previous rounds. Referees will also begin announcing their decisions via stadium loudspeakers, offering greater clarity to both spectators and viewers, ensuring a more transparent experience. This technological revolution could be just the beginning of a profound change in English football.