Leading video systems manufacturer AJA provides effective in-venue AV solutions for live sport

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With the UEFA 2020 European Championships amassing over five billion viewers last year, undoubtedly global interest in and engagement with football has never been as colossal as it currently is.

In an effort to capitalise on football’s worldwide appeal, stadiums and arenas are redefining the fan experience through a greater focus on in-venue AV (audio/video). With the viewing times for football matches being as varied as they are across the world, in-arena AV workflows must be designed to accommodate fans catching the action virtually or in-person.

Fans who engage with football both at the stadium and virtually expect high quality AV standards, especially at the highest level of the game. Hence, delivering a compelling experience to in-venue and remote fans requires a smart AV setup at the stadium which is comprised of the right technologies (such as cameras, routers, frame synchronisation, conversion technology and more).

From an acquisition standpoint, it’s essential to start with the highest possible quality video and audio signals from the pitch and also consider the content needs of rights holders, production crews, leagues, teams, and coaches. Juggling these requirements successfully subsequently equates to a lot of gear spread across the arena; however, 12G-SDI and Fiber equipment can provide assistance.

12G-SDI and Fiber solutions help to streamline audio and video signal conversion, recording, and transport to OB trucks, online platforms, in-venue displays and more. 12G-SDI solutions from AJA notably reduce cable clutter and troubleshooting on-site while also providing the bandwidth required to support 4K HDR content, ensuring a richer, more dynamic fan experience. AJA also offers a range of Fiber Solutions – from routers to video recorders converters and more – to support common needs that arise in the field, like conversion of baseband signals from coaxial to Fiber.

Signal routing is equally significant to ensuring a solid venue AV blueprint, especially given the volume of different capture technologies used today to acquire different player, team, and pitch views. In live sport situations, a variety of acquisition devices are in play – including ENG and drone cameras, cameras on wire above the pitch, cameras fixed in the goal, and ENG or iPhone cameras. This means that the right combination of 3G-SDI and 12G-SDI routers (like those of the AJA KUMO line) is necessary to allow a breadth of sources to be seamlessly routed from the venue to an OB truck and/or through a switcher while also utilising RF transport streams.

Moreover, venues are starting to explore the use of HDR and analytics to enrich the fan experience via in-venue LED display content or OTT streams that offer alternative views of the pitch interlaced with metadata and statistics. The effective application of both require the use of multiple frame rates and a level of consistency that demands frame synchronisation and conversion that is stable, reliable and – most critically – capable of implementing HDR workflows directly from a range of cameras and switchers in real-time.

Select frame synchronisation technology like the AJA FS-HDR is aiding in the process of enabling teams on the ground in venues to make immediate colour adjustments that allow greater vibrancy and key moments in a live matchup. Particularly in the case of OTT streams, AJA BRIDGE LIVE can assist by offering a comprehensive solution for live streaming arena content to a range of platforms like Twitch and YouTube, with support for SRT, HLS, RTMP/S, TRP/UDP, and MPEG-TS.

In addition to encouraging an elevated fan experience, these workflows, when paired with a device like the AJA Ki Pro GO multi-channel H.264 recorder, can provide coaches, players, and teams with invaluable footage right after a match for performance analysis. Furthermore, in the case of editorial teams, a USB drive recording of the match provides these aforementioned coaches, players, and teams with the capacity for compiling highlight reels or promotional content for online distribution.

Founded in 1993, AJA employs over 200 people worldwide in building industry leading video capture cards, digital recording devices, video routers, frame synchronisers and scalers, digital converters and professional cameras. AJA’s engineering has consistently supported advancements in broadcast technologies as well as format standards to provide video professionals with future-proof workflow solutions.

AJA also provides its unique technology to leading manufacturers and developer partners across the professional video industry for integration into their product lineups. High-profile media companies around the globe – along with broadcasters, networks, post-production houses, mobile truck operators, cinematographers, film editors and more – rely on the reliability, flexibility and performance of AJA technologies to accommodate an elite customer experience.

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Referees to improve consistency with new UEFA guidelines

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Image credit: UEFA

In a meeting between Chief Refereeing Officers within UEFA and its 55 national associations, enhancing consistency and clarity underpinned the principle goals for the upcoming season.

Improving officiating

Referees – and particularly the usage of VAR – are often at the centre of post-match debates.

As the introduction of new technology into match officiating increases year-on-year, referees are in the spotlight more than ever before. The expectation was that more technology would decrease errors and controversy, but the opposite has proven to be the case.

Which is why the agreement and alignment between European nations marks a key step in the future of match officiating; the meeting between UEFA, its national associations and a representative of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) displays intention and commitment to ensuring future in-game decisions are clear, not controversial.

Meeting chair and UEFA Director for Refereeing, Roberto Rosetti, outlined why the agreement will have a vital impact on the future of European football, both domestically and internationally.

“The fact that all 55 national associations and UEFA have agreed on guidelines towards a more consistent approach to the application of the Laws of the Game marks a significant milestone,” Rosetti said.

“It will help improve the understanding of refereeing decisions among players, clubs and supporters and all stakeholders in the game.”

“For the popularity of football it is essential to remove all doubt from the game and ensure that the laws are applied with clarity.”

 

Limiting technology use

A widespread criticism of match officiating in recent years is the regularity with which VAR intervenes and interrupts match tempo.

The issue, however, is not that VAR can review decisions – in fact, this summer’s FIFA World Cup displayed an effective use of VAR during a case of mistaken identity, in which a player received a yellow card offence for a foul committed by an opposition player. In this regard, VAR was a vital part of ensuring a simulation offence did not go unpunished.

Frustration, however, grows when the use of VAR goes beyond checking “clear and obvious” errors. Lengthy replays, a multitude of angle-checking clips and the disruption of game flow all contribute to feelings of frustration among fans.

But recent amdendments aim to limit this in the upcoming season. VAR is an essential part of fair officiating, but responsibility must lie with the referee.

The new rules introduced by the IFAB are available here, with further initiatives to follow from UEFA in the coming weeks.

FIFA sparks widespread backlash with private investment proposal

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Image credit: BBC Sport

In a shock announcement made on Tuesday this week, FIFA revealed plans to create a subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to manage commercial and event operations for major competitions, including the World Cup. FIFA promises to reinvest all benefits back into the game, but the plan is receiving widespread criticism from governing bodies and governments around the world.

 

“Unleashing” football’s commercial power

Following the huge financial success of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino indicated plans to “unleash the commercial potential and opportunity” at FIFA’s disposal.

Indeed, it appears Infantino is wasting no time in capitalising on the tournament’s success, which generated AUD 21 billion (USD 15 billion) for FIFA.

An eye-watering number. A tournament record. And, apparently, still not enough.

Tuesday’s announcement made clear the intention to bring commercial rights under a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). This, according to FIFA, could generate AUD 6 billion (USD 4.2 billion) of initial capital with all net benefits going back into grassroots and infrastructure development for Member Associations (MA) through the FIFA Forward programme.

The money would be raised by selling minority stakes in FFE to private third-party investors, although FIFA has outlined that it will retain “sole control of FFE”.

The venture has a reported valuation of AUD 29 billion (USD 20 billion), prompting questions and backlash from around the world over who will actually benefit from the finances – and whether anyone should benefit at all.

 

What are critics saying?

On the surface, the principle of generating more money for MAs and investing into grassroots, coaching, women’s and youth football is a worthwhile ambition.

Currently, each MA receives AUD 11.5 million (USD 8 million) per year from FIFA Forward. FIFA affirms that, should the proposal go through, this funding would increase to AUD 29 million (USD 20 million) between 2027-2030.

However, several governing bodies, including UEFA, Concacaf and the English FA, are adamantly fighting the plans.

“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” UEFA said via an official statement on social media.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially,” UEFA continued.

“None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

Concacaf also expressed deep concern over the reports, citing a distinct lack of warning and due process from FIFA prior to the announcement.

“We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place,” Concacaf said via official statement.

“As leaders within football, we are custodians of the game. Collectively, FIFA, the Confederations and every Member Association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport.”

Further concerns also centre around the company set to lead the proposed investor group – Thrive Eternal. Founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Thrive Eternal’s role in the venture opens the door to potential conflicts of interests – and emboldens criticisms that Infantino’s relationship with the US President is compromising his leading role in football’s international governing body.

 

Football was never about the money

Investing into the game is vital to football’s sustained future, especially for nations without the financial power to fund it independent of football’s governing body.

Nobody will argue that supporting the entire football pyramid – from grassroots to professional, men’s and women’s, youth and para, playing and coaching – should benefit from the financial might of the sport’s elite.

And FIFA is promising such benefits for all – arriving in the form of tens of millions of dollars – and stemming from third-party investors intrigued by the commercial value of the beautiful game.

But this is exactly where the venture’s flaws start to appear.

Rhetoric about increasing football’s commercial power following the 2026 World Cup leads the governing body down a slippery slope to a sport which prioritises money over integrity, due process and the fans who uphold it week-in week-out.

Football – from its very first beginnings as a working class sport – was never about the money.

Although modern commercialisation has turned clubs into businesses and players into tradable assets, everyone within the pyramid is a custodian of the game.

The game is not a product to sell – especially by those entrusted to uphold its integrity.

 

What happens now?

FIFA stated its intentions to only proceed with the venture if it receives support from the majority of MAs. While many are already uniting in opposition to the proposal, there are national governing bodies who have vocalised their support, including the Czech FA.

UEFA, on the other hand, is set to hold an emergency meeting with its 55 members to discuss a potential boycott of future tournaments.

But with a deadline of September 19 for MAs to accept the proposal, and the promise of a payment worth AUD 57.5 million (USD 40 million) if they do, the next eight weeks will reveal the future of the game and the nature of its global governance.

FIFA’s plan, although laced with promises of investment, development and growth for all, has instead kicked off a contest to save the game’s soul – or change it forever.

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