The English Premier League is set to introduce a new, highly accurate offside-detection system powered by iPhones later in the 2024-25 season. This system, called “Dragon,” uses iPhone cameras to capture high-frame-rate video from multiple angles, which is then processed by custom machine intelligence software. The technology promises to improve the accuracy of offside calls, addressing long-standing issues with previous VAR systems, such as delays, human errors, and limitations in precision.
Dragon uses at least 28 iPhone cameras per stadium to track thousands of data points on each player, creating detailed virtual recreations of the game. The system can adjust its frame rate to ensure accuracy during critical moments and employs a machine learning program to contextualize player movements in real time. Although humans will still make the final offside decisions, Dragon’s advanced technology is expected to significantly reduce errors.
This smartphone-based system is also scalable, allowing for varying numbers of cameras depending on the specific needs of a venue. The technology’s potential extends beyond soccer, with possible applications in other sports, including basketball and American football. Despite the promise of enhanced accuracy, the true test of Dragon’s effectiveness will be its reception by fans and players once it is deployed.