Sport is an industry that is constantly evolving, and there have been no greater impact on what the sports that we love may look like in the future more so than technology. One sport that was slow to embrace tech was football, but over the last five years, we have seen a number of huge rule changes that have made way for technology to thrive. Its use in the sport is still as decisive as it was when the announcement was made, but given time, could it have a positive impact on football as a whole?

Video Assistant Referee

It's hard to talk about anything other than the video assistant referee when it comes to the biggest alterations in the sport because of technology. VAR has become one of the biggest talking points in the world of football, which is ironic given that many that were against the idea of the technology did so because they thought there would no longer be contentious issues to talk about. The technology was first trialled in 2014, before it arrived on the elite scene for good during the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA were pleased overall with the effect of the technology, as they claimed that there was a 99.3% success rate at making correct decisions. However, it hasn't been without its problems since arriving in the major leagues across Europe. Many still believe that these are just teething problems though, and the technology would work more effectively once the decision-making process was made more transparent for coaches, players and fans.

Goal Line Technology

One of the biggest decisions in football for referees is determining whether the ball has crossed the goal-line. However, the introduction of goal-line technology has now ensured that the decision is almost full-proof. Before the introduction of the technology, there were standout moments in the history of the game with goals given when they shouldn't have, and goals not given when they should have been.

The most famous example occurred in the 2010 World Cup, as Frank Lampard's shot crossed the line against Germany, but the referee didn't award the goal. Goal-line technology would be in place for the very next World Cup four years later, and has been one of the most positive technological inclusions in the world of football. There have only been a couple of mishaps with the technology to this point, with the obvious example coming in the Premier League last season when Sheffield United weren't awarded a goal after the ball crossed the line in a game against Aston Villa.

Football Betting

While technology has played a pivotal role in the rules of the game with the introductions of VAR and goal-line technology, there have also been advancements that have been made to help fans. The growth of sports betting continues to reach new heights, and technology has ensured that making wagers on fixtures around the world has never been easier. Many of the leading sportsbooks now boast apps, which allow gamblers to make bets on the games while they are on the move.

Furthermore, leading applications offer fans the opportunity to live stream the action, and also make in-play bets. All of these opportunities means that there has never been a more exciting time to be a fan of the sport.