FIFA will trial latest change to semi-automated offside technology during Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia will see a trial of the latest enhancement to semi-automated technology.

Premier League champions Manchester City will feature at next month's seven-team tournament alongside Copa Libertadores holders Fluminense, AFC Champions League champions Urawa Red Diamonds and last season's Saudi Pro League winners Al Ittihad.

Egyptian side Al Ahly, who lifted last season's CAF Champions League champions, will also feature alongside CONCACAF Champions League winners Leon and 11-time participants Auckland City, a club that lifted the OFC Champions League.

This year's tournament will be played between the 12th and 22nd of December and will feature the use of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT).

Semi-automated offside technology, a support tool for officials to help them make faster decisions, was introduced to the UEFA Champions League last year in a bid to enhance the flow of the game and the overall consistency of decisions.

SAOT is also being used in Serie A, and was used at the most recent World Cup.

But the Premier League have yet to introduce the technology amid the ongoing controversy surrounding officiating in England's top flight.

According to The Athletic, the Premier League will continue to monitor the use of semi-automated offside technology before making a call on whether to integrate it into the competition next season.

But in the coming weeks, Manchester City will experience a trial of the latest enhancement to SOAT.

The Club World Cup will see a trial of the latest enhancement to semi-automated tech.

When a player is more than 50cm off, the assistant gets quick notification which is intended to stop situations when a player is well offside yet the flag stays down until the end of the move.

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) November 30, 2023

As mentioned by ESPN's Dale Johnson, the assistant referee will receive a quick notification when a player is more than 50cm offside, which is intended to stop situations when a player is well offside but the flag stays down until the end of the move.

Manchester City will play their first Club World Cup game on December 19th and will enter in the semi-final stage. The winners of the two semi-finals will face off in the final on December 22nd.