Euros set for major rule change with cricket technology entering the tournament

FOOTBALL chiefs have turned to cricket for a new spin on vital decisions at Euro 2024.

Technology will switch from the three stumps to the Three Lions in the latest push to help referees get the tightest calls right.

Instead of monitoring flicks down the off-side, broadcasters will monitor flicks through for offside – thanks to a special version of the SNICKOMETER.

The device is most commonly used in cricket for marginal judgements on catches and LBW appeals.

Frame-by-frame replay measures whether the ball hits something, such as a batting pad.

In contrast, it will be deployed at the Euros for handballs and offsides.

VAR officials at the 2022 World Cup used the motion-sensing microchip in real time.

Cristiano Ronaldo famously had a “glancing header” taken off his goal slate in Qatar and awarded to Portugal team-mate Bruno Fernandes – as snicko evidence suggested the five-time Ballon d’Or winner hadn’t touched the ball.

TV viewers might be delighted to hear that Euro 2024 broadcasters will be sent “touch detection” graphics used by refs on what could include some key decisions.

The posh name for football’s snicko is “connected ball” technology.

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And the innovation is the latest in a series of high-tech features at the Euros.

VAR itself leads the way, of course – with a slight amendment.

Each match will get one Video Assistant Referee and two assistant VARs – compared to the three assistants used per game at Euro 2020.

But a semi-automated system for checking offsides should mean an end to the line-drawing and series of different angles that frustrates many viewers.

Instead the technology being deployed in Germany can instantly work out 

the point of ball contact and the offside judgement – thanks to ten cameras monitoring 29 different body points on the players.

Qatar 2022, as well as the Champions League, have used this device – and successfully so.

There are also two major changes that have nothing to do with technology.

A new rule aims to stop players crowding around refs – with only the captain allowed to approach the official.

There’s just one exception – if the stopper himself is the skipper then he can nominate an outfield player to do the approaching for him.

The other alteration is already done ‘n dusted – that’s the increase in squad sizes from 23 to 26.