Iraqi Innovation Integrates Video Assistant Technology with Artificial Intelligence

Iraqi technical expert and sports critic Ahmed Younis presented on Tuesday an innovative concept to develop the video assistant referee technology by integrating it with artificial intelligence, aiming to accelerate refereeing decisions and reduce wasted time in reviewing controversial incidents. The proposal, which carries a preliminary concept named "AI-VAR Decision Assistant," relies on a smart system that instantly analyzes images coming from stadium cameras, undertakes identifying players and the ball, tracks their movement, determines points of contact, and analyzes offside cases, penalty kicks, handballs, and infractions. The idea is based on the artificial intelligence determining the moment the incident occurred, the best camera angle, and the sequence of events, then presenting them to the video assistant referee with an analytical confidence score that helps him make the decision quickly, while the final decision remains in the hands of the referee and is not replaced by artificial intelligence. The concept also includes using computer vision and 3D tracking to reconstruct incidents from multiple angles, allowing the referee to reach the decisive clip without the need for long searches among replays. Younis believes that it is possible to develop a preliminary model and test it in the future in the Iraq Stars League, relying on match footage and refereeing incident data, and in cooperation between specialists in refereeing, technology, and artificial intelligence. The proposal aims to make the technology faster, more accurate, and more transparent, and to open the door for Iraqi football to enter a new phase of using technology and artificial intelligence in developing the refereeing system.