Not Quite Smart Enough

FIFA trialed so-called smartball technology, which uses RFID to precisely pinpoint whether the soccer ball has completely crossed the goaline, at the FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 and had also planned to trial the technology at the FIFA World Club Championship TOYOTA Cup Japan 2005. Now Adidas confirms that the technology will not debut at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. It will also not be tested at the FIFA Club World Championship™ in Tokyo this December.

In consultation with the international football federation FIFA, and in close cooperation with development partner Cairos Technologies AG in Karlsbad, Germany, it has been decided to focus on the further development and testing of the system before using it at tournaments on the highest professional level.

The adidas Match-Ball for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ that will be unveiled at the Draw in Leipzig on December 9th will be the technologically most advanced football ever made. It features a revolutionary new panel shape allowing players significant improvements in accuracy and control.

-- Jarrett @ 12/05/2005 11:27:00 AM