“SportsInnovation 2018”: Video-assistant-tests for more transparency in the stadium

08.05.2018 – With the aim of achieving more transparency for stadium visitors regarding video-assistant-decisions, tests were completed on Tuesday at „SportsInnovation 2018“ in Düsseldorf. In the first of three football matches, specially carried out for the innovation trade fair in the ESPRIT arena, a referee-error, in which a player had wrongly been shown the red card in a simulated scene, was explained to the audience via video screen.

Following a hint given by the video assistant to the referee, the revised decision was documented and then shown as a text-message on the video screen. Furthermore, the situation in the match between Fortuna Düsseldorf U17s and Bayer 04 Leverkusen U17s was communicated verbally by the referee via the stadium speakers using the same words as those shown on the video screen. This was made possible through the integration of radio communication technology connecting to the referees microphone.

In the first of three football matches at the „SportsInnovation 2018“, a referee-error, in which a player had wrongly been shown the red card in a simulated scene, was explained to the audience via this exemplary visualisation on the video screen.

For the first time ever worldwide during a football match, a so-called „Remote-Assistant“ replacing both linesmen was tested, helping the referee with offside, throw-in or corner decisions. The „Remote-Assistant“ followed the action on the pitch via live-monitor and shared his assessments with the referee via radio-contact.