Football fans around the globe will no doubt have their eyes glued to the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament from June 14th – 14th July. While European fans support their respective nations and debate controversial decisions in the game, fans watching the tournament will benefit from Cricket’s equivalent to “snickometer” for the first time this summer, to debate those controversial ‘offside’, ‘handball’ and other decisions. 

This is thanks to “connected ball” technology, which fits the match balls with motion-sensing microchips that tracks every touch of the ball at a rate of 500 times a second. The technology will be used in Germany over the 4-week period, following its success in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.  The tech is sensitive enough to determine whether the ball brushed a hand en route to the goal or whether a player strayed beyond the last defender at the precise moment it was kicked.

Technology in football is by no means a new concept, with VAR (Video Assistant Referee) being adopted into Premier League games over the last few years. 

Yes, digital technology in sports is designed to make decision-calling easier for referees, but it comes down to how the tech is implemented and interpreted by those using it. However, this is further proof of the role digital technology is playing in sport; and with “snickometer” set to feature in Euro 2024, there shouldn’t be any controversy – we hope!