Earlier this morning Portugal showed Uruguay 2-0 in the World Cup group stage match. Portugal's first goal was awarded to Bruno Fernandes but Cristiano Ronaldo said it should have been his as the ball was headed in. In some slow motion videos it looks like the ball touches Ronaldo's head before entering the goal.
But FIFA has now confirmed Adidas Al Rihla's smart ball equipped with an Inertial Measuring Unit (IMU) cannot detect any inertial changes on the way into the goal. This at the same time gave the final result that the goal was scored by Fernandes instead of Ronaldo. The IMU detects changes in the ball's inertia at a rate of 500Hz. On the recorded inertia change graph, no change was noted. Al Rihla is the first smart ball used by FIFA at the World Cup.
Ronaldo wants goals to be given to him so that he can record 9 goals in the World Cup putting him on par with Portuguese football legend Eusebio. Last week he became the first player to score in five World Cups against Ghana.
Adidas Al Rihla's smart ball technology not only helps to detect contact in getting the right decision in scoring goals but also to detect offsides to help the VAR system. With smart technology, the controversies of Maradona's "Hand of God" goal and England's alleged off-line goal in 1966 will not be repeated.
