The impending Euro 2024 in Germany will witness the utilization of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and various technological innovations to guarantee equitable and accurate officiating throughout the competition. This development follows the successful deployment of VAR at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
VAR will be utilized in conjunction with semi-automated offside technology, goal-line technology, and connected ball technology. This amalgamation of tools is designed to furnish match officials with the requisite support to make pivotal decisions during matches.
The VAR system at Euro 2024 will comprise a Video Assistant Referee, two Assistant Video Assistant Referees, and three video operators, who will be tasked with constantly monitoring incidents related to goals, penalty area occurrences, red cards, and mistaken identity. The VAR team will only intervene for unmistakable and blatant errors, and the on-field referee will have the final say subsequent to a thorough review of an incident.
In addition to VAR, Euro 2024 will also showcase connected ball technology, which supplies precise ball data to VAR officials in real time. This technology harnesses player position data with AI to facilitate swifter decisions and more well-informed officiating.
Another pivotal technological feature at the competition is semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), which is reinforced by 10 specialized cameras in the stadiums and monitors 29 body points for each player. SAOT collaborates with the connected ball technology to pinpoint the initial point of contact with the ball during offside scenarios.
Goal-line technology (GLT) will also be operational at Euro 2024, employing seven cameras per goal and control software to determine the ball’s position in the goal area. This technology will automatically notify officials if a goal has been scored, delivering a vibration and visual signal on the match official’s watch.
With the integration of these technological breakthroughs, Euro 2024 endeavors to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of officiating, ensuring equitable outcomes for all participating teams. The integration of such technology represents a significant leap forward in modernizing the sport of football and addressing contentious decisions that can exert a substantial impact on the result of matches.
As we anticipate the tournament, the utilization of VAR and technology at Euro 2024 heralds a new era of officiating in football, where the dependence on advanced tools aims to uphold the integrity of the game and furnish a level playing field for all teams involved.