The UEFA European Football Championship 2024 proved to be another landmark tournament, not just for its thrilling matches, but for further solidifying the unprecedented role technology plays in enhancing the beautiful game. Building on the advancements seen at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, EURO 2024 continued to set new standards by blending advanced AI analytics, cutting-edge football sensor technologies, and real-time data. This powerful combination further elevated accuracy, refined player performance insights, and deepened fan engagement. Here’s a look back at how innovation truly stole the spotlight at EURO 2024 and what its continuing legacy means for football technology today.
1. Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Enhancing Decision-Making
By UEFA EURO 2024, VAR was a well-established presence, having been comprehensively integrated into the UEFA Champions League and extended to all men's senior national team and club matches, as well as the UEFA Women's Champions League and the UEFA Women’s EURO.
How VAR functioned at UEFA EURO 2024
Each game at the Championship leveraged a VAR system, supported by two Assistant Video Assistant Referees (AVARs) and three dedicated video operators. Four advanced Video Operational Rooms (VORs) were established in the central Football Technology Hub (FTECH Hub) at the international broadcast center in Leipzig, serving as the primary resource for these operations.
The VAR team continuously scanned for clear and obvious errors related to four crucial, match-changing situations:
- Goal
- Incidents in the penalty area
- Red cards
- Mistaken identity
The VAR team reviewed all match-changing situations, intervening only when substantial proof of a clear and obvious egregious error in a pivotal moment was uncovered. In such cases, the VAR could suggest that the referee initiate an on-field review. The ultimate verdict always remained with the on-field referee. VAR also accounted for any violation that might have transpired in the immediate lead-up to an event (the "attack phase of play").
"Fact-based" decisions, such as offside calls or fouls inside/outside the penalty area, could be directly communicated to the referee by the VAR, often negating the requirement for an on-field review screen. However, the final say always rested with the referee. Information regarding the review process and final decisions was transparently communicated within the stadium using the stadium screens, keeping fans informed.
2. Smart Football Technology: The Connected Ball Era
For the first time at a UEFA European Football Championship, the official match ball, provided by Adidas, featured connected ball technology. This groundbreaking innovation, building on its debut at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar with the "Al Rihla" ball, transmitted precise ball data to video match officials in real time.
Impact at EURO 2024
Combining player position data with AI, this technology was a key component of UEFA’s semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), significantly supporting faster and more accurate in-match decisions. The connected ball also proved invaluable for VAR officials in identifying every individual touch of the ball, drastically reducing the time spent resolving complex handball and penalty incidents by providing objective evidence.
As we reflect on the magic and precision of Adidas's connected ball technology at EURO 2024, it's a testament to the advancements in smart football innovation. This technology directly aligns with the capabilities of Gengee's exclusive and patented INSAIT KS Smart Football. Infused with ultra-light UWB positional sensors and wireless recharging technology, the INSAIT KS design redefines what a smart football can achieve. It not only retains the traditional roll and flight characteristics cherished in the beautiful game but also brings real-time tracking and analysis directly to the field. This evolution makes it possible to monitor and evaluate passes, shots, dribbles, and interceptions with stunning, down-to-the-centimeter accuracy, whether indoors or outdoors, live in action.
3. Semi-automated Offside Technology (SAOT): A Leap in Precision
SAOT was a game-changer at EURO 2024, providing VAR teams with the ability to quickly and more accurately ascertain offside positions.
How It Operated
This system leveraged ten specialized cameras installed at each stadium, meticulously tracking 29 unique body points per player. Having been incorporated into the UEFA Champions League since 2022, SAOT seamlessly integrated with the EURO connected ball. This powerful combination promptly pinpointed potential offside situations that needed to be analyzed, precisely at the moment of ball contact, significantly speeding up decision-making and reducing contention.
4. Goal-line Technology (GLT): The Unquestionable Verdict
Goal-line Technology (GLT) systems were fully installed and operational in all tournament venues by UEFA.
In Action at EURO 2024
This technology, already in use since 2016 in UEFA's premier club and national team contests, operated using seven dedicated cameras per goal. Implementing sophisticated control software, these cameras continuously monitored the ball within the goal vicinity. With cutting-edge vision-processing algorithms, the GLT system relayed whether a goal was scored within a second of the action via a vibratory and visual signal on each match official's watch, eliminating all doubt.
The Football Technology Hub: The Nerve Center of Innovation
The FTECH Hub in Leipzig truly stood as the nerve center for all technological operations supporting EURO 2024. Video match officials (VARs and AVARs) were permanently stationed and operational for all matches, working from the four VORs housed within the FTECH Hub.
Its Crucial Role
The hub seamlessly amalgamated all the vast quantities of data collected by diverse technologies. This included data from optical cameras (used by goal-line technology and electronic performance tracking systems) and sensors (like the connected ball). All these data points underwent real-time quality control before being distributed to various critical applications, including SAOT and the Performance Analysis Portal. This centralized hub ensured smooth and efficient technological support for the entire tournament.
The Future is Now: Lessons from EURO 2024
The UEFA EURO 2024 didn't just showcase technology; it provided a powerful real-world demonstration of its transformative impact on modern football. From the precise data provided by connected smart footballs like the Adidas Al Rihla (and paralleled by innovations like INSAIT KS Smart Football) to the undeniable accuracy of AI-driven officiating and the depth of player analytics, the tournament proved, yet again, that sensors and data analytics are truly game-changers.
The advancements seen at EURO 2024 continue to inspire the next generation of football technology. As teams, leagues, and even individual players worldwide increasingly adopt and rely on these sophisticated tools, the line between raw human skill and technological precision will only blur further. This ongoing integration promises to create a faster, fairer, and ultimately more thrilling and insightful sport for everyone involved.
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