FIFA unveils new technology for Qatar 2022

Technology Jul 1, 2022 546

November 21 will not only be the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, but it could be a before and after in offside history. Through an official statement, FIFA presented the semi-automated technology for offside detection. The system will help video match officials and on-field referees make faster, more accurate and more reliable decisions in the world's biggest football competition.

With the collaboration of adidas and various partners, and most notably the respective Supplier Innovation Excellence Working Group, FIFA has perfected the Video Assistant Referee system. Twelve cameras installed under the roof of the stadium capture the movements of the ball and up to 29 data points of each player, 50 times per second, to calculate their exact positions on the pitch. The 29 groups of data collected include the extremities and parts of the body that are taken into account to signal an offside.

This technology will be inside the official adidas Al Rihla ball, which will be decisive for the detection of doubtful illegal positions: an inertial measurement unit (IMU for its acronym in English). This sensor, located in the center of the ball, sends a data packet 500 times per second to the video room, allowing the exact moment the ball is hit to be detected with absolute precision.

“At the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, FIFA had the courage to use VAR technology on the world's biggest stage. Since then, video arbitration has become a resounding success. Semi-automated offside detection technology is an evolution of VAR systems that have been implemented around the world. This system is the result of three years of research and testing by FIFA and our partners, with the aim of bringing the best of the best to the teams, players and fans traveling to Qatar later in the year. At FIFA, we are very proud of this work and look forward to seeing the world see the benefits of this technology at the 2022 FIFA World Cup™. FIFA is determined to take advantage of technological advances to improve football at all levels and the most convincing demonstration of this is the use of semi-automated technology for offside detection in the 2022 World Cup”, said Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA. FIFA.