Connected ball technology played a pivotal role in a World Cup match between Croatia and Portugal. The technology canceled Croatia’s late equalizer against Portugal, detecting a slight touch undetectable by the naked eye and video reviews on Thursday. This resulted in Portugal’s 2-1 victory in Toronto, allowing them to progress to the round of 16. Croatia’s players and fans felt devastated, believing Josko Gvardiol’s goal was wrongly disallowed for offside.
FIFA emphasized the accuracy of this high-tech ball, equipped with advanced sensors. The sensors detected a minor glance by Croatia’s Igor Mantanovic, placing Mario Palasic in an offside position during the goal’s buildup. FIFA’s sensors offer officials an unprecedented level of data for quick and accurate decision-making.
The official Trionda World Cup ball, designed by Adidas, contains a small inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor operating at 500Hz. This sensor captures data 500 times per second. It tracks ball acceleration and movement in three dimensions while pinpointing the exact moment of player contact. The technology integrates with in-stadium cameras, transmitting data in real time to video assistants.
The connected ball technology, besides aiding in offside decisions, can assist with incidents like handballs and penalties.
Reliability of the Technology
The call was contentious because slow-motion replays from multiple angles were inconclusive about Mantanovic’s contact with Ivan Perisic’s cross. Referee Espen Eskås was guided by VAR to review the sideline monitor. FIFA showcases a heartbeat graphic indicating the ball’s touch, showing a notable spike when Mantanovic supposedly grazed the ball.
Professor Manos Tentzeris from Georgia Tech explains, “The ball’s position is 99.99% accurate… you know exactly where the players are, even the tip of a shoe determining offside.” FIFA previously used this technology at the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 European Championship. Tests between 2020-22 included trials at tournaments like the Arab Cup and Club World Cup.
During Euro 2024, the sensors detected Denmark’s Joachim Andersen handling the ball against Germany, leading to a VAR-reviewed penalty that secured Germany’s 2-0 win. Despite FIFA’s confidence in the technology, criticism arose. Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand and Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić shared concerns, stating that these decisions detract from football’s enjoyment.
AP sports writer Maura Carey from Atlanta contributed.
James Robson’s reports are available at his website.
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