The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Tuesday (21) that the semi-automatic offside system will be implemented in the Série A of the Brazilian Championship starting from the 20th round, marking the beginning of the second half of the competition next weekend.
The sports entity reported that the technology underwent tests in recent weeks, both in youth category games and in matches of the Série A itself, before receiving final approval for official use. This decision was communicated to the clubs during a meeting held Tuesday morning at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
Although the CBF had already planned to introduce this novelty in the 20th round, as scheduled in May, the confirmation date was postponed to prevent any unforeseen issues during the long implementation process, which lasted approximately eight months.
The CBF assures that all stadiums belonging to Série A clubs are properly prepared to operate the new semi-automatic offside system. Additionally, the Crefisa Barueri Arena, used by Palmeiras when Nubank Park hosts events, will also adopt the technology after the club contracts the service.
The system's operation requires the use of about 30 mobile phones installed in the stadium, which need an electrical power source and internet access. The technology is provided by the company Genius, which also uses it in other competitions, such as the Premier League, the Mexican Championship, and the Belgian Championship. Currently, 65 stadiums globally have the semi-automatic offside installation.
The devices are responsible for recording the entire game in 4K resolution and at 100 frames per second, which allows for the creation of a complete digital replica of the match.
Based on data collected from the operation of the technology in the three leagues that already use it, the CBF points out that the semi-automatic offside can reduce the time dedicated to analyzing offside calls by about 33%. The system is named Semi-Automated Offside Technology and abbreviated as SAOT.
In case of any technical failure during the games, the refereeing team will notify coaches, team captains, and the public about the unavailability of the technology. In these scenarios, the refereeing body will revert to using the conventional VAR analysis method, resorting to the manual line check to verify offside calls, following the same protocol used in the first 19 rounds of the Brazilian Championship.
Initially, the CBF intended to start the 2026 edition of the Brasileirão with the semi-automatic offside active. However, it was necessary to postpone the implementation so that technical visits could be conducted to all stadiums that would receive the new technology before its activation.
Following the loss in the ODI series in England, Indian team captain Shubman Gill expressed concern over the players' physical condition. According to a new report, the functioning of the BCCI Excellence Centre (CoE) is being questioned due to frequent hamstring injuries and issues with player workload management.
The new report has raised several serious questions regarding the fitness system in Indian cricket. The report indicates that recurring injuries, especially hamstring strains, have put the methods of the BCCI CoE under close scrutiny. According to the report, after a change in support staff last year, some senior players found it difficult to adapt to the new system, raising questions about coordination between the team management and the Excellence Centre.
The report asserts that numerous hamstring injuries have been recorded in recent months. Sources within the BCCI suggest that some players took to the field without achieving full readiness. It is claimed that there was insufficient communication between the CoE and the team management regarding the physical condition and workload management of the athletes.
The report also notes that since Nitin Patel's departure, the Excellence Centre has yet to appoint a head of medical staff. Furthermore, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed in 2023 have not undergone significant changes. Although player fitness data is being collected more systematically, the process of making timely decisions based on this data has slowed down, leading to a continuous increase in injuries.
The report also hints that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has had to cope with additional pressure related to maintaining balance in the team and fulfilling duties similar to Harik Pandya's role. However, the report does not specify whether his injury is a direct result of this pressure. Questions are currently being raised about the functioning of the medical system and the BCCI Excellence Centre in light of the rising number of injuries and fitness management.
After the Spanish men's national team defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final of the 2026 World Cup, its celebration gathered two million Spanish citizens in Madrid on Monday, July 20.
Team members took an open-top bus tour through the iconic locations of the Spanish capital. During this route, thousands of fans waved flags, chanted, and followed the team.
Football fans have many reasons to be happy, as the men's victory came after the triumph of the Spanish women's national team at the 2023 Women's World Cup, which was held in Australia.
Rudi Garcia will conclude his work as the head coach of the Belgian national team at the end of this month. This decision was made by mutual agreement with the Royal Belgian Football Association, which decided not to extend his contract.
The 62-year-old French specialist led the 'Red Devils' team to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup in North America. However, they lost the match against tournament finalist Spain with a score of 2-1. Garcia, who took command after Domenico Tedesco in February 2025, will officially leave his post on July 31st when the current agreement expires.
Belgium's campaign at the World Cup drew mixed reactions. The team started the tournament with draws against Egypt and Iran, but then secured a convincing 5-1 victory over New Zealand, taking first place in Group G. They then staged an impressive comeback, defeating Senegal 3-2 in the Round of 32, before eliminating host nation USA 4-1 to reach the final eight.
Despite reaching the quarterfinals, Garcia was constantly criticized for his tactical decisions. Particular attention was drawn to his choice to substitute goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the second half of the match against Spain. The coach later explained that the veteran goalkeeper was experiencing muscle problems and could not play at full capacity.
Vincent Manneart, Sporting Director of the Royal Belgian Football Association, thanked Garcia for restoring stability to the national team after a difficult period. He highly praised the coach's contribution to strengthening squad cohesion and achieving a strong result at the World Cup. Garcia himself expressed pride in helping launch the team's generational transition and thanked the players, staff, and fans for their support over the last year and a half.
Manneart will now lead the search for the team's next coach. The 'Red Devils' will resume participation in the UEFA Nations League campaign later this year, playing matches against Italy and France.
