Do not under any circumstances call them robot referees. In Abu Dhabi last week FIFA took the next step in trialling limb-tracking technology that, all going to plan, will lead to marginal offside decisions being made within three seconds at this year's World Cup.
While Chelsea's Club World Cup final win over Palmeiras required two VAR checks leading to penalties being awarded by Australian referee Chris Beath, there were no marginal offside calls requiring a check.
The semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) system was, however, used successfully in games earlier in the competition and, to provide the most recent example, it would have significantly sped up decisions like Ollie Watkins' ruled out goal away to Newcastle United on Sunday or Michail Antonio's against Brighton in December
