Liga MX, in its effort to optimize the application of the rules in its competition, launched the semi-automatic offside system (SAOT), which received its first assignment by ruling the goal by Colombian Jose "Pantera" invalid. Zuniga in favor of America against Xolos Tijuana.

This action that triggered this system occurred in the 24th minute of the match when the Colombian finished alone in the area to put the ball in the Xolos de Tijuana net, but the system immediately detected the offside position of the America player at the exact moment of the play. The Colombian striker finished after a double header in the box, first by Rodrigo Aguirre and then by Zuniga himself, who headed the ball over goalkeeper Tono Rodriguez. The play initially appeared legal, but after the application of the SAOT (Semi-Automatic Offside System), the verdict was reversed, and the goal was disallowed. This marked a turning point for Liga MX, especially after Commissioner President Mikel Arriola recently highlighted the benefits of this cutting-edge technology system, which will be able to better detect these plays and help referees avoid making so many mistakes. The Semi-Automatic Offside System uses high-speed cameras and sensors to track the exact position of the ball and players, allowing for more accurate determination of when a player is offside, reducing the margin of human error.

What is SAOT?

The Semi-Automatic Offside System is a real-time application that can detect offsides in VAR-equipped television cameras and is already used in the English Premier League.

This mechanism is a huge step towards optimizing Liga MX competition and making the results fairer.

especially given the numerous controversies surrounding this issue, where Liga MX supposedly made an effort to acquire this system for approximately $4 million USD, according to unofficial sources. This technology will help clarify actions that are not immediately perceptible to the human eye. Thus, the Clausura 2026 tournament kicked off with a historic event, as Mexican soccer fully entered the era of precision technology,and the disallowed goal by Raul Zuniga will remain the first official record of SAOT in Liga MX.

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