Euro 2024 is on the horizon, set to kick off in Germany in just three weeks. However, a significant controversy has emerged that might impact the tournament. Reports suggest that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) offsides could be banned from the competition due to an ongoing legal battle involving UEFA and a technology firm.
This development comes as a surprise and adds an unexpected layer of uncertainty to the upcoming tournament. The heart of the issue lies in a lawsuit filed by Dutch tech company Ballinno against UEFA and German ball-tracking experts Kinexon. Ballinno alleges that UEFA has used its patented technology without authorization.
Specifically, Ballinno claims that they hold a patent for a ‘method and system for detecting an offside situation,’ which they secured back in 2011. This system involves placing a chip in the football to alert referees via earpiece when a player is offside. The legal proceedings are set to commence on June 3, just 11 days before the tournament begins.
Despite Ballinno making initial contact about their claim last year and officially filing the application five weeks ago, the timing of this court date is critical. If the court grants Ballinno’s injunction, UEFA might be forced to abandon the VAR offside system for Euro 2024. UEFA has remained relatively calm about the situation.
A spokesperson commented, “We cannot comment as such on ongoing litigation matters. However, UEFA is not overly concerned by Ballinno’s application.” Th.
