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The Influence of Technological Applications on the Fairness of Decision-Making in Football Matches

Author(s)

Chuyang Wu, Aoen Wen*

Affiliation(s)

Guangzhou College of Applied Science and Technology, Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

With the evolution of football tactics and the intensification of match demands, traditional refereeing reliant on subjective judgment increasingly falls short of meeting the modern game’s rigorous standards for fairness. To mitigate the impacts of erroneous and missed decisions on match outcomes, technology-assisted refereeing has progressively been integrated into football competitions. Innovations such as Goal-Line Technology (GLT), Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) have played a pivotal role in enhancing the accuracy and equity of officiating. However, the deployment of these technologies also introduces challenges including decision-making delays, substantial financial costs, and the continued dependence of certain rulings on subjective interpretation. This paper examines the contextual backdrop, positive impacts, and inherent limitations of technological interventions in football officiating, while prospectively exploring the development of artificial intelligence-assisted refereeing systems. It explores how to achieve a judicious balance among fairness, efficiency, and spectator experience, thereby offering theoretical guidance for the technological advancement of the sport.

Keywords

Technology-Assisted Refereeing; Referee; Technology; Football

References

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