On Saturday, Juventus will take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Final. There are a handful of intriguing uses of tech surrounding the event, especially with the match involving a tech-centric team in Real Madrid.
Here are the top four technology storylines surrounding the game:
1. FOX Sports & BT Sport To Offer Game In Virtual Reality
While FOX Sports has broadcasted other events in VR, they’ve never done so for the UEFA Champions League Final. FOX and its partner, LiveLike, will team up to provide the 360-degree experience using multiple camera angles. Both are working to up the level of interactivity of the broadcast by providing real-time stats to engage the viewer further.
The broadcast will be available in the U.S. through the FOX Sports VR app to anyone with a Samsung Gear VR or cardboard headset. Fans simply have to sign in with their television provider credentials.
BT Sport is also making the final widely available to fans in a similar way. They’ll be following through on their commitment to make televised sport more accessible to fans by providing the match for free on YouTube, the BT website, BT Sport channels and the BT Sport VR app.
Said John Petter, CEO of BT Consumer in a statement, “We believe that VR can offer our viewers an immersive second screen view which will enhance our coverage. We’re excited to be broadcasting what we believe to be the biggest multi-camera live 360° sporting event ever for the first time to our customers.”
2. Police To Use Facial Recognition Software On Fans
With around 70,000 fans expected to be on hand for the match in Cardiff, police will be tasked with keeping the environment safe. That’s why there are plans to use real-time facial recognition software in and around the stadium.
It will not be required for entry into the match, rather the system will be used in various locations such as the Cardiff Central train station. Faces will be matched against 500,000 “custody images.”
The South Wales Police force commented in a statement, “This will be one of the largest security operations ever undertaken in the Welsh capital and the use of technology will support the policing operation which aims to keep people safe during what will be a very busy time in Cardiff.”
This type of software has been used in the past by Leicestershire police at a 2015 Download music festival. It was met with plenty of criticism from privacy advocates.
3. UEFA Considering Use Of Video Assistant Referees
Following a mistake by a referee in an April match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, demands are being made to introduce Video Assistant Referees (VAR). Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal was given an iffy second yellow card and sent out of the match.
Bayern Manager Carlo Ancelotti said afterward that the decision hurt his team and the referee “had a bad game.”
The mistake forced UEFA to open the door to eventually allowing VARs to be introduced at a later date. A similar process took place before goal-line technology was introduced for the Champions League in 2016.
The league issued a statement, saying, “Regarding video assistant referees, there are currently trials taking place, so let’s see the results and if or how the system can work while preserving the flow of the game.”
4. #WalkersWave Uses Augmented Reality To Unite Fans — Or Not
As the official sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, Walkers Crisps came up with a unique way to unite fans using AR. The brand gave fans the ability to have themselves projected onto a digital billboard in Cardiff waving next to English football legend, Gary Lineker.
Each recorded wave had then been added to a digital supporters stand outside of the match venue, National Stadium of Wales.
But the #WalkersWave campaign ended up backfiring in a way once internet trolls realized the projections were not being monitored carefully.
We recognise people were offended by irresponsible & offensive posts & we apologise. We are equally upset & have shut the activity down.
— Walkers Crisps (@walkers_crisps) May 25, 2017