How are football’s technological advancements changing the most popular sport?

by Chittu Shetty February 15, 2024

From Goal line technologies (GLT) to VAR, a look at the advance d technological systems that are being implemented and changing the sports today

Let’s imagine this situation: you and a friend sit in the stadium stands and discuss how well your favorite athlete is playing today. Since there is no chance of a peace agreement, you take your smartphone out of your pocket, point it at the field, click on the footballer’s image, and get all his game statistics in real time. You can already do this in different stadiums, and widespread adoption of the technology is just around the corner. Let’s discuss the advanced systems that are changing football today.

The most popular game control technologies

Modern football is undergoing significant changes with innovative technologies affecting different game aspects. Moreover, technological progress has even affected the betting system and allows you to make correct score predictions for various matches and leagues. Let’s look at how technology is not only improving the performance of footballers but also changing refereeing and the way fans interact.

A few words about VAR

A video assistant referee (VAR) is a support tool that allows referees to make the right decisions at the most critical moments of a match. The VAR team monitors the game remotely on multiple screens in real-time and can view footage from any angle.

It is important to remember that the system can only intervene in 4 cases if the head referee made a mistake or overlooked a critical game situation. The following check options are allowed:

• Goal or no goal: checking for offside and whether the ball crossed the goal line.
• Penalty: whether a collision occurred in the penalty area, simulation, or foul.
• Direct red card: checking whether the offense was severe enough to cause the footballer to leave the field.
• Incorrect identification: used if there is a possibility that the referee has sent off the wrong player.

The referee may use a VAR check after making his decision. Even if he does not resort to this right, assistants can inform him about the mistake made through the earphones.

Features of the Goal-Line (GLT) system

A football referee’s main job is determining whether a goal should be awarded or disallowed. The Goal-Line solution was first used at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Goal-Line includes 14 cameras that capture about 500 frames per second and transmit images to software for data processing. The system monitors the 3D coordinates of the ball, and if the ball crosses the goal line, the camera detects it and sends a notification to the referee’s watch.

Smart ball technology

In the era of the birth of football, people used round-shaped objects to play; leather balls appeared in the 20th century, but now the football area is at the stage of using technology inside the ball. Large corporations Cairos Technologies and Adidas have joined forces to create an intelligent ball equipped with sensors and connected by receivers located in different parts of the field.

This structure allows you to control where the ball is in real-time. It is essential to determine the moment of crossing the goal line with maximum accuracy.

Advanced technologies for tracking players’ physical parameters

The performance of players and teams can be monitored with Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS), which include cameras and wearable gadgets. Although the main task of EPTS is to control the ball and the athlete’s movements, it can be successfully combined with other devices to monitor the level of loads and physiological parameters, e.g., accelerometers, compasses, gyroscopes, etc.

Each team has three EPTS units: one for healthcare workers, one for analytics in the stands, and one for analytics on the bench. Control cameras monitor the players and the ball; they also provide feedback.

Using the data obtained with such gadgets, coaches can control the footballer’s condition and choose the optimal amount of load. In addition, specialists can detect potential injuries before they occur, avoiding severe bruises and fractures and reducing recovery time.

Difficulties with the implementation of football technologies

Adding technology to football comes with its challenges. Active resistance to change, inaccuracies in systems, and the need to train athletes and officials to ensure the correct use of technology are just a few of the challenges the sport faces.

In addition, the implementation and maintenance of modern systems require significant expenditures. Less popular teams and leagues often face financial limitations when adding technology, which creates an imbalance.

Some experts are concerned that the increased use of technology may reduce the impact of human factors on derby results. We love football for its subjectivity and ambiguity, and due to the active implementation of modern systems, spontaneity may disappear.

Future trends in football

Recently, technology has been developing rapidly, so we can expect even more dramatic changes in football. With innovative systems, including virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), fans of this sport can get maximum emotions during broadcasts. The technology’s potential is enormous, from the multisensory VR system to holographic images, and this is just the beginning.

Separately, using tools based on artificial intelligence for processing datasets should be discussed. Analyzing large amounts of data can provide valuable insights into the performance of different players, discover patterns and tendencies, and allow informed decisions to be made.

Conclusion

The future of football looks promising with the technological advancements influencing the sport today. Soccer technology industry know-how, from state-of-the-art equipment to unique health-tracking techniques, allows athletes to perform better and stay safe. In addition, the development of information processing systems provides essential data on the effectiveness of individual footballers and squads for correct score prediction. As technology advances, expect even more mind-boggling results.