LONDON: Semi-automated offside technology made a decisive debut in the Premier League.

Clubs voted in the technology last April, but its rollout was pushed back from the autumn for more trials.

SAOT helped rule out two goals in the top flight on Saturday, one in Manchester City’s victory over Crystal Palace and another in Arsenal’s draw with Brentford.

At Etihad Stadium, Eberechi Eze’s clinical finish would have put Palace 3-0 up on the half-hour mark, but the 26-year-old was ruled offside from Daniel Munoz’s pass.

Then, in Saturday’s late game, Kieran Tierney thought he had headed Arsenal in front in the first half of their draw against Brentford but was ruled to have strayed beyond the last defender from Ethan Nwaneri’s cross.

The technology is designed to make the judgement of tight offside calls easier for officials by making key parts of the review process automatic.

The Premier League says the artificial intelligence system “enhances the speed, efficiency and consistency of offside decision-making”.

SAOT has already been used in this season’s Champions League and in the FA Cup from the fifth round onwards.

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