Referee iPhone: Premier League relies on smartphone cameras for video evidence
The much-criticized VAR system is to make way for an armada of iPhones in England. Footballers and fans are hoping for better AI-supported decisions.
(Image: Shutterstock/Csaba Peterdi)
Smartphones are soon to provide less controversial video evidence: According to media reports, the English Premier League is planning to replace the often criticized VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system with a setup consisting of iPhones before the end of the year. Initially, a system consisting of at least 28 Apple devices is planned for the sidelines of each stadium: The iPhone 14 will be used, as Wired magazine explains. Four of this smartphone model series will each be connected together in a waterproof case with a cooling system and permanently supplied with power.
More cameras, higher frame rate
According to the provider, the new system can track up to 10,000 data points on a player's body using smartphone cameras and calculate a 3D model from this - instead of just around 30 body points previously. Previous VAR systems also had to make do with around 10 to 15 cameras and captured the action at 50 to 60 frames per second. With the iPhone cameras, this could theoretically be increased to 200 frames per second. At the start, the system will be limited to 100 frames per second, notes Wired, which should "strike a balance between latency, accuracy and cost".
VAR systems should help referees to better assess confusing game situations with the help of AI – and then decide on a punishable offside situation, for example. Just like refereeing decisions, video evidence has always been a regular source of heated debate among fans, most recently at Euro 2024. The additional cameras and higher frame rate should help the systems, which rely on machine learning and AI, to calculate reliable 3D skeletons and thus capture match situations more accurately.
iPhones in the Premier League from the fall
It remains to be seen why Apple's iPhone 14 series was chosen specifically. Last year, there was speculation that Apple was interested in streaming rights for the Premier League, but a deal obviously never materialized.
The provider of the new system did not want to give Wired any comparative data on its iPhone video evidence compared to previous VAR systems. The new flood of data makes a comparison difficult. The iPhones are expected to be in use in the Premier League from the fall for the 2024/2025 season.
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