The radical transformation in world’s popular sport
High up in the Nou Camp overlooking last week’s first leg in Barcelona , Manchester United’s football team of experts and analysts were seen processing data that will help Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff down on the pitch. The photo offers a fascinating glimpse into the work that goes on behind the scenes to give United every possible advantage over their opponents.
The team collates video and analytics during the game and relays the information to the pitch side.
It is also fed into a central database at United’s Carrington headquarters for analysis and preparedness for the next game. This tells you the revolution and massive transformation technology has brought to football in recent years.
Whether you call it football or soccer, the thrills and the excitement of this beautiful and mesmerizing game unite fans all around the world. And a couple of years back, we still remember the tech in play at the 2018 FIFA World Cup was nearly as astonishing as the athletes themselves.
Technology perception
We all know technology can create controversy and contention in a sport that is already loaded with passionate fans, and for a couple of years, a new video assistant referee (VAR) has been among the most loved and hated of the new technology in football. The VAR system has come under sharp criticism in English Premier League after Arsenal was denied three points following a mishap that forced the officials of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to apologize. VAR Lee Mason forgot to draw the relevant offside lines for Brentford’s equalizer during their 1-1 draw with the Gunners. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration with the officiating, admitting that he won’t be content unless the Gunners were to receive two extra points to their league tally. Lee Mason has since retired from officiating any match in the future- the first casualty of VAR indicating the hunter becomes hunted.
Let us sample some of the high-tech systems that are in use in football today.
Smart ball system
A promising prospect has been a “smart ball” embedded with a sensor (NFC chip), jointly developed by German corporations Cairos Technologies and Adidas.
The technology uses a network of receivers around the field designed to track the ball’s precise position in real-time- including exactly when it has fully passed the goal line with extreme accuracy. The system will also notify match officials precisely when the ball has crossed the goal line, and the information will be accessible on a smartwatch receiver worn by the referee.
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Goal-Line Technology (GLT)
Figuring out whether it’s a goal or a near-miss is an important part of the referee’s job.
Goal-Line Technology debuted in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and it was also an important part of the tech used a couple of years ago in Russia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
With Goal-Line Technology (GLT), 14 cameras capture up to 500 frames per second and send the image to an image processing system. The 3D coordinates of the ball are monitored, and when the entire ball crosses the goal line the camera captures it and sends a signal to the referee’s watch.
GoalControl is still providing the technology throughout significant football competitions around the globe, as it did in Brazil.
This system is a radio-based system, which uses low-frequency magnetic fields to determine whether or not the whole ball has passed over the goal line. There are two magnetic fields – one that utilizes coils attached to the goal in the goal area, and the other that is created in and around the ball using a passive electronic circuit embedded in the ball. The system processes the data and transmits it to the referee’s wristwatch, displaying a real-time message and vibrating alert.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in Football
The Video Assistant Referee, a new genre of video technology, was utilized in officiating during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The idea was to catch errors that weren’t caught earlier in the game. The VAR team supports the referees from a centralized video operations room at the international broadcast center of the stadium.
One video assistant referee, three assistants, and four replay operators make up the group, which has access to all 33 camera feeds covering the matches, plus exclusive access to two special offside cameras.
Despite its success, VAR remains the most controversial technological application in football circles. Maybe as time progresses FIFA might introduce a separate system that assists the VAR in critical milliseconds decisions.
Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS)
Teams use Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS), which comprise camera-based and wearable technologies, to regulate and enhance player and team performance. The primary function of EPTS is to track player and ball positions. However, teams can also utilize it in combination with microelectronic devices (such as accelerometers and gyroscopes) and heart-rate monitors, as well as other devices to measure load or physiological parameters.
Teams use these devices in combination with Micro Electrical Mechanical devices (such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and compasses) to obtain inertial load and other medical information. Each team has three EPTS devices. One is for an analyst in the stands, another for an analyst on the bench, and a third for the medical team. Optical tracking cameras are used to monitor the players and the ball and provide feedback. It works with camera-based systems and wearable technology.
There are three forms of physical tracking devices available on the market:
- Optical-based camera systems
- Local positioning systems (LPS)
- GPS/GNSS systems
So what’s next for technology in football?
Virtual and Augmented Reality have been hot topics of conversation- from holographic pitch additions to multi-sensory headsets for viewers and computer referee officials, the possibilities are endless.
As technology advances at a rapid pace, it’s only a matter of time before the world’s biggest and most celebrated sport begins to trial it to improve. However, it comes with its opposition and setbacks, and it can be difficult to incorporate on such a magnitude. Nonetheless, the coming decade will be exciting for footballers, teams, pundits, and fans alike.
The fact remains technology is going nowhere and the applications in the most popular sports on the planet have just started. We may see robots soon officiating key penultimate matches. Who knows? Time will tell.
