FIFA Offside Technology Quality Programme Test Manual Summary
Introduction
Offside Technology (OT) aims to assist match officials in making accurate and consistent offside decisions. The FIFA Quality Programme for Offside Technology establishes a global framework for evaluating and certifying OT systems, ensuring they meet high standards of performance, reliability, and integrity.
Certification Process
Companies seeking certification must fulfill requirements outlined in the Application Guide. Testing occurs during FIFA test events, coordinated by an independent test institute. Two FIFA marks are available:
- FIFA Quality: Suitable for a broader range of competitions.
- FIFA Quality Pro: Targeted for top-level competitions, focusing on skeletal tracking accuracy and automation.
Providers must submit their final product in the same configuration as supplied to end users. Testing results are analyzed by the test institute and submitted to FIFA for review. Certification is awarded for passing tests; failing results in a retest opportunity. The programme supports various technologies, including Virtual Offside Line (VOL), Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT), and Advanced SAOT.
Test Requirements and Methods
The programme assesses accuracy, functionality, and robustness of OT systems through specific tests:
- Offside Tests (FIFA OT Tests 01 & 02 & 03): Evaluate 2D and 3D line placement.
- Tracking Tests (FIFA EPTS Tests): Assess skeletal and ball tracking accuracy.
- Logic and Match Test (FIFA OT Test 04): Verifies system reliability under match conditions for FIFA Quality Pro certification.
Offside Tests
- 2D Line Placement Test (FIFA OT Test 01): Tests accurate 2D line placement using wide camera views. Providers submit images of VOL for analysis within 90 seconds.
- 3D Line Placement Using Equipment Test (FIFA OT Test 02): Tests accurate 3D line placement using zoomed-in views and equipment (e.g., football boots). Providers submit images within 120 seconds.
- 3D Line Placement Using Players Test (FIFA OT Test 03): Tests automatic 3D body part identification for offside detection, focusing on skeletal coordinates. Providers submit images and 3D coordinates.
Tracking Tests
- Skeletal Tracking Test (FIFA EPTS Test): Assesses real-time tracking of skeletal points on multiple players using Vicon motion capture as a reference.
- Ball Tracking Test (FIFA EPTS Test): Assesses automatic ball location and kick moment identification using Vicon motion capture as a reference.
Logic and Match Test
- FIFA OT Test 04: Conducted during a controlled match, testing system logic, decision-making, and alert generation for offside scenarios. Requires screen recordings, video outputs, and offside visualizations.
Test Methods
- Broadcast Camera Angles: Main, 16m right, 16m left, and high behind cameras are available. Providers may request specific camera sweeps.
- Criterion Data Collection: A Trimble SPS620 Robotic Total Station measures goal plane, player positions, and marker locations with <10 mm accuracy.
- Scenario Setup: Pre-set offside scenarios are created using golf tees and players positioned at known coordinates.
- Image Analysis: Images are overlaid with reference markers to assess VOL accuracy within tolerance zones. Scoring is based on VOL position (0-3 points per zone).
Data Analysis
- Offside Tests: Image processing and data analysis techniques verify VOL accuracy. Scoring is based on VOL position relative to reference markers. A pass requires 95% scenario submission and meeting specific score thresholds.
- Tracking Tests: Player and ball tracking data are analyzed using RMSD, MAD, and other metrics to assess spatial and temporal accuracy.
- Logic and Match Test: Successful completion results in a passed test report, including outcomes, observations, and test setup details.
Conclusion
The FIFA Quality Programme for Offside Technology ensures certified systems meet rigorous performance standards, supporting fair and accurate offside decisions. Testing covers 2D/3D line placement, skeletal/ball tracking, and match logic, with detailed analysis and scoring to validate system functionality.
