Global Institute of Sport brings AI-powered football analytics into the classroom

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Technology has for a long time shaped how football clubs analyse players, prepare for matches and make decisions, and that technology is now officially entering the classroom.

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has partnered with Impact Soccer to bring AI and computer vision-powered football analytics into its programs.

The partnership will give GIS students hands-on access to advanced analysis technology, and help students understand how artificial intelligence is changing the modern football industry.

Turning Match Footage Into Data

Football analysis has traditionally relied on coaches and analysts watching hours of video, but that process can now be sped up by artificial intelligence.

Impact Soccer uses computer vision and AI to analyse football footage, with its technology able to turn player actions and movements into structured data. The system can also analyse what happens away from the ball. It’s possible to connect YouTube content or upload your own, which Impact Soccer then analyses.

Preparing the Next Generation

Not every important action involves the ball. Players constantly move into space, create passing options and make runs that affect defenders, but these actions can be difficult to measure manually.

Impact Soccer’s technology aims to quantify this off-the-ball influence. Its Impact IQ platform analyses player positioning and movement to provide more information about their impact on the game.

For students, this creates new ways to study football. They can look beyond simple goals, assists and passes and explore how movement and positioning affect a team’s performance. This allows GIS students better access to information that ensures the coaches of tomorrow can make more informed decisions. The partnership is also beneficial for tomorrow’s administrators: sporting directors and scouts also able to gain a broader reading on players where they may or may not spend their club’s finances.

Adding the Next Layer

Football clubs continue to invest in data and technology. Computer vision can track players. GPS systems measure movement. Video analysis helps coaches study matches.

AI is now adding another layer. Students entering the industry will increasingly encounter these technologies in their daily work, and this prior experience during their education can help prepare them for that environment.

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Borussia Dortmund & Vodafone launch ‘Fan Mode’ to keep supporter attention on the pitch

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Borussia Dortmund have launched ‘Fan Mode’, a new initiative aimed to incentivise supporters to put their phones away and live in the moment while supporting their side at home matches.

Dortmund have paired with club sponsor Vodafone, with the program in use from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Under the initiative, fans can activate ‘Fan Mode’ within the Borussia Dortmund app – in a manner similar to flight mode – before locking their phone as the action kicks off. From there, time spent inactive on their phone during play equates to points, which in turn sees fans in the running for prizes – including autographed jerseys and fan shop gift cards.

‘With Vodaphone, we have a partner who not only understands what technology is capable of, but also when it should take a back seat,’ said Dortmund CEO Carsten Cramer.

‘Here, a global technology company is specifically using its innovative strength to protect the experience that no technology can replace.

‘Fan Mode sends a powerful message. Over 81,000 people in the stadium, singing, cheering, and holding their breath together: this here and now is irreplaceable.’

The move comes following a 2023 survey conducted by Vodafone themselves, which showed 63 percent of general football fans regularly use their smartphones during matches but simultaneously, listed an increase in social media, selfies and streaming at the football as an annoyance.

‘Anyone at a soccer game should experience the moment and the emotions – not just a cell phone screen,’ said Marcel de Groot, CEO of Vodafone Germany.

‘Let’s leave our smartphones in our pockets more often at the stadium and instead focus on what’s happening on the field and in the stands.’

Partaking in the initiative is completely voluntary, as is the claiming of any points or prizes.

Dortmund, managed by Niko Kovac and currently second on the Bundesliga table, led the Bundesliga’s average attendance for season 2025/26 with just under 80,000.

Their ‘Yellow Wall’ – the supporters in the Südtribüne, or South End of Westfalenstadion (known commercially as Signal Iduna Park) – are widely considered among one of the iconic sights of global football fandom.

A-Leagues partners with Champion Data to enhance broadcast experience

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The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has appointed Champion Data as its official broadcast graphics partner in a three-season agreement designed to enhance coverage of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women. The partnership will introduce Champion Data’s live graphics technology across broadcasts on Network 10 and Paramount+, delivering real-time statistics, scores and visual insights to help fans follow the action.

Champion Data will use its proprietary GGi platform to connect match data with broadcast graphics and production workflows. The system will support the delivery of clear, engaging information throughout matches, giving viewers greater insight into key moments and performances. The agreement also strengthens the APL’s commitment to improving the broadcast presentation of women’s football. Champion Data will bring the Ninja A-League Women’s production standards into alignment with the men’s competition, supporting a more consistent viewing experience across both leagues.

The APL expects the partnership to enrich its broadcast offering as audiences seek deeper insights and more engaging ways to follow Australian football. The new graphics package will help viewers understand match developments, track statistics and connect with the stories unfolding on the pitch. Champion Data will manage technical delivery, train broadcast operators and provide live matchday support throughout the agreement. This end-to-end approach will help production teams deliver accurate information and consistent graphics across both competitions.

The partnership builds on Champion Data’s experience in sports data collection, analytics and broadcast technology. They currently provide statistics for the AFL, V8 Supercars and Tennis Australia alongside many others. By integrating live match information with on-screen graphics, the company will help bring the tactical detail and drama of A-Leagues football to television and streaming audiences.

As the APL continues to develop its broadcast product across television and digital platforms. The partnership positions Champion Data as a key technology provider for the next three seasons. The collaboration will combine data expertise and broadcast innovation to improve how fans experience Australian football, bringing greater clarity, context and insight to every match.

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