Genius Sports has officially brought Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) to Brazilian football, launching the system at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracanã Stadium in partnership with the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation). In this Q&A, Guilherme Buso breaks down what the launch means for Brazilian football, how SAOT fits into the company’s wider data and performance analysis tools, and where else in the world the technology has already been deployed, from the Premier League to the Libertadores and beyond.
Why has CBF chosen Semi-Automated Offside Technology?
We’re here today in Rio de Janeiro at one of the most important stadiums in the world, the Maracanã, for the launch of SAOT in Brazilian football. It’s a huge step for our company, Genius Sports, but also for football in Brazil.
Why is Brazilian football investing in SAOT now?
This is the next technology in sports, so when CBF decided to join forces with Genius Sports and bring this technology to Brazil, they were aiming for the best… the best technology in football. Not only is SAOT an important product on its own, but when we use those cameras to track the field, we’re capturing billions of data points. That means CBF can now analyse the game in every aspect, not just offside decisions. They can use our Performance Studio platform to break down tactical views and performance analysis. It’s the best technology football can offer, and now it’s available for Brazilian football.
Where is Genius Sports’ SAOT already making an impact?
Before Brazil, SAOT was rolled out in other major leagues around the world. It started with the Premier League, then we had the opportunity to bring it to Belgium. We also ran it with CONMEBOL for the Libertadores and Sudamericana finals, and earlier this year, Mexico’s Liga MX also adopted SAOT. So Brazil is the next one, and we’re very happy about it.
What does this milestone mean for football in Brazil?
We at Genius Sports are incredibly proud of this project because we’re working with Brazil — the land of football. Whenever Brazil does something on the pitch, everyone wants to know about it. SAOT is the first thing we’re doing, but I’m sure this is part of a much bigger project, and we can deliver innovation and technology that helps Brazilian football continue to thrive.
