Hawk-Eye Innovations has announced a three-year collaboration agreement with Italy’s top tier football league, Serie A, that will see the Sony-owned company provide an array of football technology services for both broadcast and officiating purposes.
As part of the agreement, Serie A and Hawk-Eye are launching what it being described as “the world’s most comprehensive state-of-the-art VAR Replay Centre” in Lissone (Milan), Italy. Hawk-Eye will also provide services including goal line technology (GLT), video assisted referee (VAR), VAR information system (VARdict), multi-angle replay systems (MARS), and electronic performance tracking systems (EPTS). The agreement form part of Lega Serie A’s objective to push innovation in the football industry and be at the forefront of fan engagement.
Hawk-Eye said that it will be dedicating 40 full-time employees and over 160 freelancers to supply the services. The new VAR Replay Centre will comprise 12 VORs (video operation rooms) housing a total of 60 operational staff on match days, with future plans to host referee-training sessions as well as becoming “the hub for technological advances in the sport” throughout Italy.
“We are absolutely delighted about extending and enhancing our partnership with Lega Serie A,” said Peter Irwin, Hawk-Eye’s commercial director, EMEA. “The league has continually proven itself to be one of the most innovative in the world of sport, and we are particularly excited about bringing some of our latest technologies, such as our skeletal player tracking system, to Italian football. Data is becoming an extremely valuable component within football, and we believe our systems will bring substantial value to Lega Serie A, its clubs, and stakeholders worldwide, whilst continuing to ensure that the league receives the highest standard of officiating technology possible.”
Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Lega Serie A, added, “We are extremely delighted to continue our partnership with Hawk-Eye, a company that works with major football institutions, with whom we were at the forefront in introducing fundamental tools such as GLT and VAR to the world of football six years ago. Thanks to Hawk-Eye’s technological innovations and the potential offered by the new production centre in Lissone, Lega Serie A continues to grow into a Media Company capable of creating content independently. In addition, it increases the possibility of providing an always more advanced product for our partners, for the Clubs and for all the fans.”
