VAR offsides could be ‘scrapped’ from Euro 2024 as UEFA is taken to court by tech firm
VIDEO reffed offsides could be sensationally scrapped from the Euros – because the inventor of a similar system is taking UEFA to COURT.
A firm that created tech like that used by VAR to spot goalside attackers wants the organisers halted from using it – claiming their idea has been copied.
They have bagged a court date to apply for an injunction just ten days before the opening match of the tournament, which kicks off in Munich on June 14.
If granted it may rule out UEFA using the love-hate system – just as fans have started to accept it.
The ruling would represent a huge embarrassment to European football’s governing body – which has spent a fortune licensing the system from another firm.
An England fan said: “It’s just farcical. How has it got to this stage SO close to the Euros.
“Love it, or hate it – we’ve all started getting used to VAR.
“Can you imagine if England end up going out because of a duff decision thay VAR would usually have picked up?
“There would be uproar. UEFA needs to sort it out.”
Dutch firm Ballinno has filed a patent infringement suit against UEFA and ball tracking experts Kinexon, from Germany – alleging unauthorised use of its technology.
It claims that 13 years ago it was granted a patent for a ‘method and system for detecting an offside situation’.
It says it registered a proposal for a chip in balls to alert an earpiece worn by officials at the exact moment it is kicked – removing the need to continuously watch players.
The firms are now set to face a show-down in a courtroom in Hamburg, less than two weeks before Germany and Scotland begin the tournament, in Munich, on June 14.
Incredibly the last minute legal face-off comes despite the initial application being logged on April 18 – five weeks ago and the first contact over the claim being made last year.
But Florian Müller, a patent law expert, told Dutch media the timing was clearly designed to put UEFA under time pressure.
This Saturday’s FA Cup final and the Champions League final at Wembley will be unaffected, falling before the June 3 hearing – which will be chaired by three judges.
A spokesman for UEFA said: “We cannot comment as such on ongoing litigation matters. However, UEFA is not overly concerned by Ballinno’s application.”
He added UEFA did not believe the use of VAR would be impacted – even if it lost the case.
The original patent that was filed shows a ball tacking tech intended to alert referees specifically to offsides.
It is unclear whether the claimant alleges the whole of VAR has infringed its original patent – or just offsides.
A patent expert in the UK told The Sun: “It would be for a court to decide whether any of the protected tech was being unfairly used in the VAR process.”