Everybody knows that football is a game driven by emotion, tactics and skills. Nonetheless, in the previous several years technology has altered the game, increasing its correctness and fairness. Today’s game is evolving through two of the most disruptive technologies: Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
VAR: Revolutionizing Football Refereeing
Well, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) has turned the football officiating world upside down as it is helping referees make the right decisions in huge decisions like goals, penalties, and red cards. Introduced to reduce human error with the help of video footage, the VAR has improved decision-making accuracy to 96%. However, it has faced criticism for slow reviews and some subjective calls that can disrupt match flow.
The video assistant referee system allows a pool of officials to analyse high-angle replays. These officials can advise the on-field referee to make the right calls and adjust the way the game is played, as players can now be more wary of their actions.
Improving Match and Referee Performance Through AI
It seems that Artificial Intelligence is going to have an ever more important role in football, apart from officiating. Artificial intelligence applications are used for analysis of the player performances like data about player movements, speed, and fitness level, which allow the coach to make the right decision. Such a data-driven method enables teams to focus on personalized training programs for individual players according to their requirements. Thus, it helps achieve their potential on the pitch.
In addition, AI is being incorporated in VAR systems to help decision-making procedures. SAOT tracks players with great accuracy using AI to minimize the time required to make offsides by as much as 31 seconds. In addition to improving fans’ viewing experience, it also ensures the game flows properly.
Influence of Technology on Betting
Technology has also reached betting on football matches. As data analytics in real-time becomes sophisticated, betting companies get access to more accurate odds based on the players’ performance statistics in addition to the match conditions. Artificial intelligence algorithms analyse vast amounts of data from past matches to predict outcomes more reliably than ever before. This improvement enables fans to better place their bets.
Moreover, technological advances have contributed to making live betting popular. Bettors can bet during matches while events are happening, and the odds are changed on a real-time course after each event. In doing so, they have made betting a more synergistic and engaging experience for fans who can now utilize technology to give them a leg up on their betting approach.
Conclusion
Football as we know it is changing with the help of technology. VAR and AI will not only be the means to achieve better officiating, but they will be the drivers of a much wider evolution that drives better on-pitch performance and fan experience.
The evolution of technology and its integration with football will definitely evolve over time, making it even more interesting for the players as well as the fans.
What do you think? Tell us how you feel about using new technologies in football matches.
