FIFA investigated claims of Trionda sensor being used for offside decisions in Croatia–Portugal match

• FIFA said it investigated the technology of the Trionda sensor for determining whether a goal by Croatia’s side in the Croatia–Portugal match should have been disallowed.
• In a joint report, AP and CNN said the sensors recorded a “minute contact,” which could be caused by obvious reasons, and that it was unclear how VAR could use that.
• AP adds that Trionda has an IMU sensor and provides data in real time for operating video assistant referees.

FIFA said the “connected ball technology” used in the 1/8 final of the World Cup match between Croatia and Portugal, in which a goal by Josko Gvardiol was disallowed for offside, was investigated. In its material, AP, referring to FIFA, claims that the technology uses a Trionda sensor to determine whether a player is offside at the moment the ball is played. According to AP, the sensor recorded “minute contact” between the ball and the player’s foot, and that could be considered irrelevant.

In AP’s material, it is stated that the Trionda sensor shows “minute contact” that, according to AP, could be caused by obvious reasons and might not necessarily be linked to offside. Based on AP’s findings, FIFA argues that the sensor could be used to determine offside by tracking the ball and players’ positions.

CNN, citing its own analysis of the report, claims that the ball was in contact with Mario Pašalić’s leg before the pass by Joško Gvardiol. According to CNN, the “minute contact” between the ball and the player was recorded, and the moment was shown on the “heartbeat graphic,” which, according to CNN, indicates that the ball’s contact was irrelevant.

AP adds that FIFA’s official “Trionda” device is Adidas’ “small inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor,” which, according to FIFA’s data, processes 500Hz and transmits 500 readings per second. Based on AP’s information, FIFA states that the technology uses the ball’s movement and can identify the exact moment of contact; FIFA says the data is processed in real time.

AP also reports that VAR prevents offside decisions: ESPN’s Michael Eskosap explained in a report, citing AP, that the “heartbeat graphic” shows the moment of contact. AP notes that the accuracy of the “heartbeat graphic” is such that it can be used to determine whether the contact affected the play.

CNN adds that FIFA said the “proven” contact described in the report was not necessarily the kind of contact that could be used to make an offside decision. AP’s material also claims that FIFA’s technology can be used to determine offside, and that the contact could be caused by the player’s movement.

During the Croatia–Portugal match, AP reported that FIFA had investigated the connected ball technology from the 2022 World Cup and said it used it in the offside decision. According to AP, on the 2022 World Cup, the sensors recorded that Josko Gvardiol’s foot made contact with the ball, and that VAR recognized the offside decision and disallowed the goal.

Tags: Technology/Aviation/Sport/Football