Artificial intelligence is penetrating all spheres. Sports is no exception. In refereeing, AI already helps determine offside, simulations, even roughness. In 2026, at the World Cup, AI-assistants will be used for the first time. We tell you how it works, what it gives, and whether AI can completely replace a human.
Semi-automatic offside system: cameras track 29 points on a player's body. AI calculates the moment of the pass and the position of players in fractions of a second. The result is shown on the referee's screen. Simulation detection: analysis of player movements (how fast does he fall, does it match the contact). AI has been trained on thousands of examples. Prediction: the neural network predicts where the ball will go and suggests possible player positions to the referee. Violations: AI notices a hit without the ball, handball, even rough verbal abuse (video lip analysis).
Important: AI only recommends, the decision is up to a human.
Thanks to AI, the number of serious mistakes at the 2026 World Cup may be reduced to 0.
AI does not understand context (for example, was it intentional). Cannot determine the "strength of the hit" (foul or not?). Does not take into account psychology (intensity of passions). Failures: if the camera loses the player (due to obstruction). Ethics: players will argue not with the referee, but with a robot. Discussions about millimeters: offside by 1 cm, which does not give an advantage, is still recorded. AI kills emotions (you can't argue with a machine).
Total replacement of a human is a utopia.
In 2026-2030, AI will begin to be used to assess the severity of fouls (yellow or red card). AI detectors of racism will appear (read words from the lips). It is possible that AI will predict the outcome of a dispute (a fiction). But the final decision will remain with a human. FIFA will not dare to use a robot referee.
AI in refereeing is an assistant, not a replacement. It reduces errors, but does not kill the human factor. Because football is a game of passions, not algorithms.
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