There are few things that attract the ire of football supporters as much as VAR.

Whether it be the contentious calls the technology seems to make, or the long deliberations and lack of information for those watching on while checks are taking place, it is fair to say VAR has generated much controversy since being introduced to the Premier League in 2019.

But what about a world where VAR isn’t needed, without compromising on – and perhaps even improving – the accuracy of decisions being made?

Well, Vodafone has partnered with leading futurist Andrew Grill to produce a report called ‘Living in the Moment’, which highlights the impact 5G Standalone technology could have across society, including on sport.

5G Standalone (SA) is a cellular infrastructure network that promises to build on the current version of 5G to deliver much higher speeds, lower latency (buffering) and increased reliability and security for customers, with a huge potential for massive scalability.

A leading futurist claimed the rollout of 5G Standalone technology could bring the end of VAR

A leading futurist claimed the rollout of 5G Standalone technology could bring the end of VAR

A leading futurist claimed the rollout of 5G Standalone technology could bring the end of VAR

VAR has been hugely controversial in England since the Premier League introduced it in 2019

VAR has been hugely controversial in England since the Premier League introduced it in 2019

VAR has been hugely controversial in England since the Premier League introduced it in 2019

Most people will have spent time at a festival or stadium where their phone shows 4G, but they can’t access the internet, and 5G SA would put an end to this, while helping to incorporate real-time data to those who need it.

What is a futurist?

  • A futurist is someone who studies the future and makes predictions on it based on current trends
  • They actively strategise and consider the impact of these developments on life and business 
  • Andrew Grill describes himself as an active futurist and specialises in technology
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Among the predictions made by Grill in the report, he claims a rollout of 5G SA would help to see the end of VAR through the use of smart ball technology, pitch sensors, wearable technology for players and robotic agile cameras from multiple angles, meaning the controversy generated by decisions will be vastly reduced. 

‘What we will see is the ability to connect hundreds of items on field,’ Grill exclusively told Mail Sport when asked how the rollout of 5G SA will impact sport in reality. 

‘This means data will be available to match officials, TV producers and those watching, with everyone having access to the same data. You’ll have access in the stadium from your phones and it will be pretty obvious what the decision is.

‘Today with VAR calls, you have to wait to see what the VAR official says. There’s replays, you’re looking at camera angles which can be a bit blocked.

‘You’re hoping the particular incident is caught from the right angle and you still make mistakes. 

‘A goal or offside could be given because there are only two angles. That’s not good enough. 

‘If we have all the information from the ball, who touched it last, where it touched them by looking at sensors around the ground, you will no longer need humans to review imperfect information. We will have perfect information and data.

Andrew Grill is a leading futurist who believes we will be able to collect perfect data to help reduce controversy with various refereeing and VAR decisions

Andrew Grill is a leading futurist who believes we will be able to collect perfect data to help reduce controversy with various refereeing and VAR decisions

Andrew Grill is a leading futurist who believes we will be able to collect perfect data to help reduce controversy with various refereeing and VAR decisions

Vodafone's report with Grill is titled 'Living in the Moment' and this graphic explains how it would impact football and VAR in particular

Vodafone's report with Grill is titled 'Living in the Moment' and this graphic explains how it would impact football and VAR in particular

Vodafone’s report with Grill is titled ‘Living in the Moment’ and this graphic explains how it would impact football and VAR in particular

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, with a show every Monday and Thursday this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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‘The better quality data you have, the better decisions you can make. This will enhance the game because VAR sometimes isn’t fair as humans make mistakes.’

Vodafone and Grill predict new 5G technologies could transform the UK in the next five to seven years, with the futurist explaining how the impact for sports fans will be ‘absolutely positive’ with the various data and camera angles provided effectively giving them ‘virtual binoculars’.

However, one of the major problems with VAR since it was introduced is the fact that plenty of calls are still subjective, whether this be for a penalty decision or a potential red card challenge.

It remains to be seen how effective the new 5G SA technology would be with these interpretive calls, but Grill was adamant that it will, via the help of AI, ‘take the emotion’ out of decisions.

He added: ‘Red cards can be very subjective and heat of the moment calls where you’ve got 15 players screaming for a decision.

‘If the raw data is there – which will be powered by AI – I can look at my AI co-pilot and know whether a tackle is high because the data is telling me it’s a high tackle. 

‘You forget VAR is human, so the AI co-pilot on the field takes the emotion out of the moment.’

Recent years have seen various developments in the way data is used for the viewer experience in sport.

For example, the sensors used in Rugby World Cup balls last year which measured how far the ball went and the trajectory it travelled at, the use of hawkeye in tennis and the ability to measure the power and speed of shots in football.

And Grill believes 5G SA will continue to develop these methods and more to enhance the sporting experience.

Some Premier League supporters have protested about the use of VAR so far this season

Some Premier League supporters have protested about the use of VAR so far this season

Some Premier League supporters have protested about the use of VAR so far this season

Grill claims 5G SA would enable us to use 'perfect data' and take the emotions' out of decisions

Grill claims 5G SA would enable us to use 'perfect data' and take the emotions' out of decisions

Grill claims 5G SA would enable us to use ‘perfect data’ and take the emotions’ out of decisions

This would even work for subjective calls, with AI helping to ensure the right decision is made

This would even work for subjective calls, with AI helping to ensure the right decision is made

This would even work for subjective calls, with AI helping to ensure the right decision is made

He said: ‘Sport as a whole (will be improved). Think of the perfect data we will be able to collect through 5G SA.

‘With the access to AI which can process the data, we are now on the cusp of having a new way to experience sport with data.

‘We don’t want data to get in way, but we just want to know the data supports the decisions being made.

‘So I think any sport can benefit from enabling the sensors on the field of play.’ 

CEO of Vodafone UK, Ahmed Essam said: ‘The predictions highlight the growing need for 5G SA infrastructure in the UK, which Vodafone UK is committed to delivering. As part of its proposed merger with Three UK, it has pledged to invest £11 billion over the next 10 years and deliver 5G SA to 99% of the UK population by 2034.’

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