Fans were blown away that Euro 2024 used a contact sensor in the ball for VAR decisions

The introduction of VAR (video assistant referee) into club and international soccer has been somewhat of a controversial topic for fans over the years. While it’s great to see an emphasis on getting the calls right, VAR remains an imperfect system that impacts games. But there’s no denying that some of the technology is pretty astounding.

We’re seeing that play out early on at Euro 2024.

On Monday, Belgium lost to Slovakia in the biggest Euro upset ever. And that 1-0 loss came courtesy of two disallowed Belgium goals through VAR. One of those reviews was for a potential handball in the lead-up to Romelu Lukaku’s goal. That goal was wiped off because an in-ball sensor detected contact for that handball.

Is this a contact sensor for the football #VAR pic.twitter.com/XaP3nY7elV

— Adam (@adamd0719) June 17, 2024

No matter your thoughts on VAR, that’s an undeniable innovation. Instead of relying on a camera angle, the sensor pinpointed that exact moment of contact. It turned a controversial call into a straightforward decision.

Fans were blown away to see that technology in action.

This was how Twitter/X reacted

Soccer has sensors in the ball to see if the ball was hit

NFL can't properly spot a football https://t.co/NyYHoU86oc

— YardsPerPass (@YardsPerPass) June 17, 2024

Wanna say I can't state how much I love this addition. Sensors in the ball that can ensure total objectivity for something like a handball like this (among other things I'm sure)?

I'm so game

Only way to ensure "black and white" rules are followed correctly is with tech https://t.co/Em08KtmBcA

— Ben Griffis (@BeGriffis) June 17, 2024

+Semi automated offside checks
+Sensors to detect the ball being touched

These innovations have immensely shortened VAR checks. These are ways the game should be moving forward. Not going back into the stone ages by removing VAR.

— Marvin the Paranoid Android (@Boboye_Ak) June 17, 2024

BALL NOW HAS TOUCH SENSOR?

— elmo in his villain arc (@xmdbstr) June 17, 2024

Great VAR technology.
Clear handball, ball redirect pic.twitter.com/uPBDmwIrAW

— Geir Ivan Torvik (@GeirIvanTorvik) June 17, 2024

that VAR audio from the ball is insane wow

— andreea (@bckIeys) June 17, 2024

Wow there’s now a ball sensor in VAR

— Big O (@_Tankam) June 17, 2024

A heartbeat sensor on the soccer ball is just absurd

We’ve gone too far pic.twitter.com/TNB4PgrBNo

— Mikey O’ver (@MikeyOver1) June 17, 2024

Can’t wait to hear the “traditionalists” rail against the sensor inside the ball.

— Eric Krakauer (@EricKrakauer) June 17, 2024

Love the graph shown in the replay. Shows exactly when someone touches the ball due to the sensors inside it. Initially used for the off side tech but it helped here aswell. Makes things much clearer #BELSVK pic.twitter.com/5lwYboTbcc

— Rahul Maheshwari (@ghuspaithhiya) June 17, 2024

The NFL really could use that.