The Premier League confirmed that West Ham United’s Monday night fixture against Brentford commenced without the use of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT).
This decision was prompted by a global outage of Amazon Web Services (AWS), which impacted the technology’s functionality just minutes before kick-off at the London Stadium.
The Premier League Match Centre issued a statement on social media, informing fans and stakeholders of the situation. “Due to the impact of today’s global AWS outage, this evening’s match will begin without the use of Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT). If required, the VAR will use virtual offside lines, as in previous seasons, to determine an offside decision. If SAOT becomes available during the game, it will be implemented when appropriate.”
SAOT, introduced in April 2025, was designed to enhance the accuracy and speed of offside decisions by automating key elements of the process.
Utilizing up to 30 tracking cameras operating at twice the frame rate of standard broadcast equipment, the system automatically places virtual offside lines and generates graphics for both in-stadium and broadcast audiences.
This technology aims to reduce the time taken for offside checks by an average of 31 seconds, addressing concerns over the duration of VAR reviews, especially for marginal calls.
The decision to proceed without SAOT was made after consultation with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and the technology provider, Genius Sports. The Premier League’s statement emphasized the commitment to maintaining the integrity of the match, stating that traditional VAR procedures would be employed if necessary.
The statement further assured fans that should the technology become operational during the game, it would be implemented appropriately.
The match proceeded without incident, with no offside decisions requiring review by VAR. This outcome highlighted the resilience of traditional officiating methods and the preparedness of match officials to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.