Will this curb the discussions?: Microchip in EM ball should detect handball

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When introduced, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was intended to relieve referees and make football fairer. This was only partially successful; now the VAR decisions are simply discussed instead of the referees.

Now the world football association Fifa has come up with a new plan that should provide some relief, especially with the elusive handball rule. The official match ball for the 2024 European Championship contains a microchip that must detect when and especially where the ball has hit a player’s body.

The technology is not entirely new. At the World Cup in Qatar, a sensor was integrated into the ball and, together with the so-called “limb tracking system”, provided information about the ball throw and the position of a player to detect any offside positions. The system is based on cameras that generate three-dimensional representations of the players’ skeletons.

Referee “deeply impressed”

Now, in addition to offside, this technology must also provide data about possible handball situations. Especially in the border area between shoulder and upper arm, there are always discussions about whether the contact should be considered handball or not. With the help of 3D modeling, a clear line can be drawn in the future.

As the Times reports, the innovation has been well received by referees who have already seen demonstrations. Respondents were “deeply impressed with the level of accuracy.” What does not disappear despite the help, however, are the questions about the purpose of a handball, the “unnatural enlargement of the body” and the thwarting of dangerous scoring opportunities. These decisions are still made by the on-field referee together with the VAR.

Offside decisions must also be optimized

Work on offside technology is also continuing. The Club World Cup (12 to 22 December) will test whether the linesman receives a signal if a player is more than 50 centimeters offside. This allows them to raise the flag faster, without interrupting the flow of the game. It is quite possible that this innovation – if it works – will also be applied in Germany. (ch)

Source : Blick