UEFA and Adidas have unveiled a new football that will be used at Euro 2024 to help produce faster offside and handball decisions.
The ‘Fussballliebe’, which has been named as the official match ball of UEFA Euro 2024, uses Adidas’ connected ball technology to send data in real time to officials.
German for ‘love of football’, Fussballliebe is set to provide insight into the movement of the ball and contribute to UEFA’s video assistant refereeing decision-making process.
“When designing this official match ball, we were inspired by the energy and diversity of the tournament and the love that Europe has for football.“
Sam Handy, VP Product and Design, Adidas Football
The technology will identify when a touch has taken place, but not where on the body. Officials will then use images from cameras to decide whether a handball has taken place.
The outer shell of the ball is supported within it by the CTR-CORE which is designed for ‘accuracy and consistency, supporting fast, precise play with maximum shape and air retention.’
Zvonimir Boban, UEFA Technical Director and Chief of Football, commented, “The UEFA European Football Championship stands as the pinnacle of national team competition in Europe and we are committed to ensuring that every aspect, from the venues to the equipment, upholds the highest standards of quality and performance.
“We are, as always, confident that Adidas’ Fussballliebe will mark another stride in our shared dedication to excellence.”
Sam Handy, VP Product and Design, Adidas Football, added, “When designing this official match ball, we were inspired by the energy and diversity of the tournament and the love that Europe has for football. With that in mind, we hope Fussballliebe will bring joy wherever it’s kicked.”
This summers’ Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany from 14th June.
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