For the next Football World Cup, FIFA intends to put an end to contentious offsides thanks to a connected ball and dozens of cameras. A high-tech system developed by Adidas.
The Football World Cup is a competition held every four years in early summer. For once, the 2022 edition will take place in Qatar from November 21. For some time now, technology has entered this sport, whether with the goal line technology – which makes it possible to know with certainty using seven high-speed cameras whether or not a football has crossed the goal line – or the Video Assistance to Refereeing in 2018, which makes it possible to make more correct faster. It is now the turn of the connected ball to enter the field to detect offsides. A technological first that is likely to cause a sensation.
A large system
FIFA, in partnership with Adidas, announced, a new semi-automated offside detection system. The president of the federation, Gianni Infantino, declared in the Vision 2020-23 that FIFA would continue to use technology in modern football and further optimize video-assisted refereeing to enable referees to make faster, more accurate and consistent decisions on offside situations. This new technology is based on a system of twelve cameras placed under the roof of the stadium with the aim of following the ball and the players, in order to determine their exact position on the pitch. There will be a total of 29 data points checked 50 times per second!
This technology will be complemented by the Al Rihla connected ball from Adidas. It has an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor placed in its center which sends data to the viewing room 500 times per second, providing highly accurate detection of exactly when the ball is played. . The two technologies combined make it possible to know precisely if there is an offside. Of course, all the data will be transcribed on the stadium screens and television screens in the form of a 3D animation. Gianni Infantino explains that “semi-automated offside detection technology is an evolution of video offside assistance systems implemented around the world. This technology is the culmination of three years of research and testing aimed at providing the best possible conditions for the teams, players and supporters who will travel to Qatar.” Verdict in a few months!