Last update 15 October, 2024 by Alberto Llopis
Football has gone from being a simple sport to becoming a multi-million dollar industry.. And for that, the use of the technology in football refereeing has become so important.
At present, The economic impact generated by football directly influences the GDP of many countries, and its effects extend to sponsors, television rights, betting and merchandising. For this reason, Any decision in a match can have huge implications, both sports and economic.
In this context, The use of technology in arbitration has become an essential tool to guarantee justice in the field. In this article, We will analyze how technology has evolved in football, from the first initiatives to the most recent innovations such as VAR and semi-automatic offside.
The importance of technology in refereeing in modern football
With the advancement of technology, It is unacceptable that the results of matches are affected by referee errors that can alter the destiny of teams and players.. Although it is understandable that errors occur in the interpretation of fouls or offsides, when it comes to goals, there should be no margin for error.
In this sense, FIFA has introduced a series of technological innovations that have helped correct these errors and make football a fairer and more exciting sport.. Next, We explore some of the technologies that have revolutionized arbitration.
Hawkeye, Goal Ref y Goal Control: The pioneers of goal technology
The controversy over the calls “ghost goals” has been a matter of debate for decades. One of the most memorable cases was the World Cup final. 1966 between England and Germany, where a goal that never crossed the line was given as valid, changing the course of the game. Another notable case occurred in World Mexico 1986, when a Michel's legitimate goal against Brazil was wrongly canceled.
To avoid this type of situation, FIFA began to implement technologies such as Hawkeye, Goal Ref and the most advanced Goal Control 4D. These technologies use cameras and sensors to determine if the ball has completely crossed the goal line.. Since its introduction, have been instrumental in avoiding the controversy over ghost goals, ensuring that only valid goals go up on the scoreboard.
OUR: The most important change in modern refereeing
He OUR (Video Assistant Referee) It has been without a doubt the most impactful technological innovation in recent football.. Introduced in 2018, VAR allows referees to review key decisions on the field, like goals, penalty shootout, direct red cards and identity confusion in warnings.
The VAR has been crucial in correcting referee errors that could have changed the course of a match, providing greater precision in decision making. Although it has not been without controversy, Its implementation has significantly reduced the number of serious errors that affect match results.
Semi-automatic offside: The last frontier
One of the biggest challenges for referees has been detecting offside., a ruler that depends on millimeters and can be difficult to see with the naked eye. To solve this problem, FIFA has implemented the technology semi-automatic offside, a tool that uses specialized cameras and a real-time tracking system to identify the exact position of the players and the ball.
This system allows quick and accurate detection of offsides, eliminating subjectivity and the margin of error in tight plays. It has been a fundamental step to reduce interruptions and improve the fluidity of the game.
The evolution of arbitration: A fairer future
With all these technological innovations, football has taken giant steps towards justice on the field. From the implementation of VAR to the use of goal technology and semi-automatic offside, Sport has evolved towards a future where referee errors have less impact on match results.
These advances not only make the game more attractive and fair, but they also protect the integrity of an industry that moves billions of euros around the world.. Modern football needs technology to keep up with the intensity of the sport, and although the controversies do not disappear completely, the margin of error has been drastically reduced.
The value of technology in football
Technology has been a key ally for football on its path towards greater justice and precision. From early systems like Hawkeye to more recent innovations like VAR and semi-automatic offside, The impact of these tools on sport has been indisputable.
As football continues to evolve, we are likely to see even more technological advances that allow matches to be played as fairly as possible, protecting the spectacle and value of this ever-growing sport.