The 2014 FIFA World Cup set to begin in Sao Paulo, Brazil today debuting Goalline technology which will make sure that the game is free from controversy due to misjudgement from referees.
The technology has been implemented by Germany based GoalControl. English fans remember all too well British player Frank Lampard’s goal against Germany being denied by the referee during a second round of match in South Africa in 2010, despite scoring a clear goal.
Ahead of the commencement of the game, GoalControl has already re-tested the technology through independent test institute to make sure that they are of high standard, including at Rio’s Maracana stadium, which will host the World Cup final.
GoalControl managing director Dirk Broichhausen was quoted by AFP as saying, "It is 100 percent accurate. The system will work."
Last year, the company has secured the contract from FIFA to install its GoalControl-4D’system based on 14 high speed cameras in all 12 venues in Brazil.
GoalControl-4D’ technology has already been implemented at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 and claimed to effective during the 16 games in six stadiums.
GoalControl-4D system works with 14 high-speed cameras with each goal having seven cameras fitted around the pitch at the stadium roof/catwalk.
The cameras are connected to a powerful image processing computer system which tracks the movement of all objects on the pitch and filters out the players, referees and all disturbing objects.
After filtering out other objects, the system triangulates the motion of the ball to track in three dimensions, with a precision of a few millimetres in the coordinate system of the pitch.
If the ball passes the goalline, the system sends a vibration and optical signal to the referees’ watches informing whether the ball has passed into the post or not.
The system creates up to 500 frames per second ensuring goal detection of accuracy up to 5 mm while images from all the cameras can be stored to replay them later to review a goal event as well as all near-goal events.
The camera can sequence images from all 7 angles that can be replayed and gives 3D-position of the ball every 2 milliseconds.
The system automatically renders a 3D view of the ball on a virtual pitch without any time delay to see whether the ball has really passed the line or not.
The system will send a "GOAL" message to the referee’s watch if the ball passes the goal line. Photo Courtesy: Goal Control
