In the ever-evolving world of football, the role of referees may soon be transformed by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Aldo Comi, CEO of Soccerment, a leading global football analytics provider, robots could replace human referees within the next three decades. While AI technology is already making its mark in officiating through tools like VAR and goalline technology, its influence is expected to grow significantly in the future.
Comi predicts that advancements in computer vision and the increasing number of cameras on the pitch will enhance the effectiveness of AI-powered machines. With access to high-quality data and sophisticated models, these machines could potentially make decisions as referees based on what they observe on the field.
Comi told the PA News agency: "Computer vision will be more and more effective in the next few years and the number of cameras on the pitch will only increase. The amount of data that is tagged and the quality of the models that are trained with that data will increase exponentially and thanks to that you will have AI models that can make refereeing decisions on the back of what they see on the pitch.
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"So we might get to the point where we don't need a referee at all. Before that, you will maybe have a referee but not linesmen, maybe they will be the first to disappear from the game. And you will have the referee connected to the virtual assistant, guiding them to make better decisions.
"Ultimately in a matter of 20 or 30 years probably the referee will be just an AI. I am not saying this is positive, I'm just saying it is likely to happen."
Data analytics have already played a significant role in disrupting the established Premier League hierarchy. Clubs like Brighton and Brentford have utilised high-quality data to identify and sign talented players, subsequently selling them for substantial profits.
As the integration of data improves, managers may even turn to virtual coaches for assistance with team selection and tactics. "AI can become a source of new ways of thinking about the game in the next few years," added Comi.
"If you give AI enough high-quality data, you will have the possibility to have a virtual assistant, which will have a better understanding of what is going on the pitch. By having the data analysed by AI you can train models to better understand what will happen in the future, for example understanding the probabilities of what is happening in the next five or 10 minutes.
"By having this predictive analytics, the AI can give you a so-called prescriptive analytics. It says, 'Things are expected to go this way, in order to improve your chances I have 10 ideas'.
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"That could be swapping two players or changing the structure of the team. The things that the AI suggests will be filtered by the assistant coach and then pass on the information to the manager and it will be up to him to accept.
"There will be AI, but not replacing professionals, but it is more of a high-quality support. The clubs that can get this sport will outperform the ones that refrain from having it."
Comi continued: "The advantage that AI can give you is X times more important than data analytics."
Soccerment has launched a new platform, which has introduced never seen before metrics such as Gegenpressing Intensity (GPI), Expected Offensive Value Added (xOVA), Gegenpressing Efficiency (GPE) and BuildUp Disruption Percentage (BDP%), providing users with more data insights than ever before. For more details visit http://www.soccerment.com
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