In a recent Round of 16 World Cup match, a review by the video assistant referee, or VAR, disallowed what would have been Germany’s game-winning goal over Paraguay because of a foul. Paraguay came out on top in a penalty shootout.
Belgium won a penalty kick in extra time after a VAR review and made a comeback against Senegal.
And a VAR review played a role in why Team U.S.A. striker Folarin Balogun was issued a red card, keeping him out of the rest of the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the next one.
Technology has impacted not just soccer in particular, but the world of sports in general – with mixed reviews. An automated system introduced this year to baseball allows players to challenge balls or strikes called by the umpire. For four decades now, American football has redefined what a “catch” is with the advancement of slow-motion replays. And human line judges have been fully replaced by technology that watches for where the ball lands on the court in tournaments like Wimbledon and the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour.
This year’s World Cup has been declared the “most technologically advanced World Cup ever,” said Santiago Manso, director of sports verticals for Lenovo, which is FIFA’s official technology partner. Ahead of the World Cup, the two entities highlighted three AI-powered features offered by Lenovo.
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Photo by Marco Bader/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
