The "semi-automated" offside, tested during the Saudi Cup in December, a system also used again during the Club World Cup, is a major challenge for FIFA to implement during the World Cup. World Cup in Qatar (November 21 - December 18, 2022).

The system promoted by FIFA is based on cameras that will give the exact position of the players on the field, giving the referees accurate information in seconds. It currently uses 18 data points per player, located in different parts of the body, and the goal is to increase this number to 29 for the World Cup, in order to provide increased accuracy.

However, FIFA ensures that the referee on the pitch will always be the one to make the final decision. "I know someone talked about ... a robotic offside, but it's not," said Pierluigi Colina, chairman of FIFA's refereeing committee.

"The referees and their assistants remain responsible for the decision on the pitch. "Their technology only provides valuable support for them to make more accurate and faster decisions."

"It's important that people who operate the VAR make the right decision, but we know they need to reduce the time it takes to achieve this, especially offside. "Sometimes it takes a little more time to evaluate an offside, especially when the situation is very marginal," he stressed.