Idea of story
The idea is to use drones in refereeing alongside human referees, which would help provide greater accuracy in officiating.
How ideas was produced
It is based on integrating the concept of drones into the football sector, where the idea emerged to use drones as assistants to football match referees.
Purpose of imaginative news story and its importance
Presenting a vision for the future of refereeing in football matches using new technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence.
About imaginative news
It is anything imagined, including ideas, expressed through a journalistic news story, Read more about imaginative news.
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Stadium A41 Hosts the First Match Officiated by Drones
In an unprecedented event that redraws the boundaries of technology on the pitch, the smart A41 Stadium witnessed the first official match partially officiated by AI-powered drones, in an exciting clash between Al-Ahali and Al-Ittihad. Many consider this step the spark of a new football revolution that surpasses the limits of traditional human refereeing.
12 Drones Equipped with 4K Cameras
Twelve drones fitted with 4K cameras hovered above the field, tracking every movement and every touch from angles spectators had never seen before. The drones were directly connected to the VAR system to provide “indisputable footage,” including an exceptional clip captured by one drone showing the ball brushing a player’s foot five-hundredths of a second before going out — a moment that stirred heated debate after the final whistle.
It didn’t stop there; one drone managed to detect a subtle handball missed by ground cameras, confirming the validity of the red-card decision that had fans buzzing.
A New App Adds a New Layer of Fun for Fans
Spectators weren’t just watching — a special in-stadium app allowed them to switch viewing angles in real time through live drone feeds, in addition to a 360° replay feature that merged drone footage with traditional cameras. The experience made fans feel as though they were part of the control room.
Alert: A Drone Nearly Hit a Player
The match wasn't without amusing surprises. One drone briefly stopped due to a technical glitch before returning to action amid laughter and whistles from the crowd. The drones also caught a player smiling and waving at one hovering right above him — a clip that later went viral.
On the other hand, the committee had to send an urgent alert to the operations team after one drone flew too close to a player during an aerial jump, causing a brief moment of tension that was quickly resolved.
More Than 3.4 Terabytes of Data in Just 90 Minutes
The system was far more than flying cameras; it relied on real-time analytical algorithms capable of assessing players’ speed and reactions within 0.02 seconds. It even detected signs of fatigue in several players and relayed them to coaches at halftime to adjust tactics.
According to the official report, the drones produced more than 3.4 terabytes of data during the 90-minute match — an astonishing figure for a domestic league game.
Drones with Emergency Parachutes
To avoid potential hazards, TechRef AI Systems—the company operating the drones—revealed that each drone is equipped with an emergency parachute that deploys automatically in case of malfunction, along with a jamming system to prevent hacking or external interference.
Global Reaction and Mixed Opinions
While many fans and players praised the speed and accuracy of the system, others expressed concerns about noise and privacy. Internationally, the experiment drew significant attention: an AFC official described the move as “a bold step that will reshape officiating within a few years,” while a major European newspaper called it “the beginning of the end for historic refereeing errors.”
A First Step Toward the Future
The head of the refereeing committee confirmed that the trial is still in its experimental phase and that upcoming matches will determine whether the technology can be expanded to other stadiums — and possibly approved for major tournaments through upcoming coordination with the national federation and FIFA.
With these developments, football seems to be standing at the threshold of a new era… an era where justice moves across the pitch on wings.
