Connected Ball Technology: A Game-Changer in Soccer Officiating

Connected ball technology recently influenced a high-stakes World Cup match between Portugal and Croatia. The technology was able to cancel Croatia’s late equalizer, helping Portugal secure a 2-1 win in Toronto and advance to the round of 16. This decision left Croatia’s players and fans in disbelief as they believed Josko Gvardiol’s late goal was incorrectly ruled offside.

FIFA employed a soccer ball equipped with advanced sensors, claiming precise detection of a minute touch by Croatia’s Igor Mantanovic. This meant Mario Palasic was offside during the goal build-up. FIFA stated the sensors in the ball provided detailed contact data, enabling officials to make swift and accurate decisions.

‘Here’s the science bit.’

The official World Cup ball, the ‘Trionda,’ manufactured by Adidas, features a sensor known as an inertial measurement unit (IMU). This sensor operates at about 500Hz, collecting data 500 times per second. FIFA explained this allows for tracking ball acceleration and subtle movements in three dimensions, pinpointing when a player contacts the ball.

These sensors, combined with in-stadium cameras, send tracking data in real-time to video assistants. Beyond offsides, this technology helps assess incidents involving handballs and penalties.

Reliability of the Technology

The contentious decision arose because slow-motion replays were inconclusive regarding Mantanovic’s contact with the ball. Here, technology was key. Referee Eskås reviewed the incident using the sideline monitor, where the technology showed a ‘heartbeat graphic’ indicating when a touch occurred. Georgia Tech professor Manos Tentzeris highlighted the system’s precision, emphasizing the 99.99% accuracy in determining a player’s position.

FIFA previously used this technology in the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 men’s European Championship, following trials from 2020-22 at events like the Arab Cup and Club World Cup.

Previous Impact

Ball sensors also played a crucial role at Euro 2024, identifying Denmark’s Joachim Andersen handling the ball during a match against Germany. This led to a VAR-reviewed penalty that Kai Havertz converted for a German victory.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand expressed concern, believing such decisions detract from football’s spirit. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić shared similar frustrations after their team’s elimination.

AP sports writer Maura Carey in Atlanta contributed to this report.

James Robson can be found at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson.

For more on AP’s World Cup coverage, visit their website.