Summary of Key Points
This article uses the instance of AI overturning a goal that would have tied the match between Portugal and Croatia in the World Cup as a starting point to discuss the changing role of AI in football refereeing—from being an auxiliary tool to becoming a “definer of facts.” It also reflects on the impact of this technological intervention on the allure of football—its uncertainty and emotional experience—and extends this discussion to the broader question of how humanity can balance precision with warmth, and rules with empathy in the age of AI.
1. AI Refereeing: From “Assisting” to “Directly Determining Facts”
In the past, people thought that VAR (Video Assistant Referee) systems merely provided referees with enlarged replays. However, the “Semi-Automatic Offside Technology (SAOT)” used in the World Cup is fundamentally different: the ball is equipped with high-frequency sensors that record the exact timing and location of each touch, and fast cameras monitor key parts of the players’ bodies. AI combines this data to determine whether an offside occurred with millimeter-level accuracy.
For example, in a chaotic situation near the goalline, a slight deflection of the ball might have been misinterpreted by a referee due to position or experience. Now, AI directly declares an offside, and the referee only needs to confirm the decision. This shift means that referees are no longer the “decision-makers of facts” but rather the “verifiers” of them; AI has become the true “fact identifiers.”
2. The Allure of Football: Diluted by AI’s Precision?
Football’s appeal lies in its imperfections—surprises, controversial calls, and last-minute goals that keep the suspense until the final whistle. Consider Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal; with AI, such a decision would have been made instantly, eliminating any possibility of it becoming legendary.
Today, players’ first reaction after scoring is not to celebrate but to wait for the VAR confirmation. Croatian fans’ joy over a potential tie was shattered by an AI ruling. This kind of delayed fulfillment or disappointment undermines the most instinctive emotional aspects of football—just like when you win a prize only to hear that it needs to be verified for another half hour, all the excitement fades away.
3. The Dilemma of the AI Age: Balancing Fairness and Human Emotion
While AI refereeing is indeed fairer and reduces human error, it lacks empathy. For instance, although Croatia’s three goals were ruled out according to the rules, the players’ dedication (even at the age of 40) and the fans’ emotional investment are not taken into account by AI.
This is not unique to football: In the future, AI may assist doctors in making diagnoses more accurately than humans but cannot offer comfort; it may help banks evaluate loans more objectively but cannot understand the dreams behind a business venture. AI can solve questions of “right or wrong” but not those of “value” or “emotional impact.”
4. The World Cup as a Prelude to an AI-Driven Society
The use of AI in the World Cup is a microcosm of the future, where more and more decisions that affect our lives (in healthcare, education, finance, etc.) will be made through a combination of human and AI judgment.
For example, AI might tell you that the cure rate for a disease is 30%, but a doctor would also consider your overall health; AI might indicate a high loan risk, but a bank officer would take into account your credit history and efforts. The World Cup shows us how we must balance increasing precision with our own judgment and human touch in an AI-driven world.
5. AI Can Calculate Facts, but Not Souls
AI can measure the distance of the offside line or the timing of a touch, but it cannot capture the weight of a player’s dedication or the joy of a goal scored by a superstar like Cristiano Ronaldo.
The essence of football is not about absolute correctness; it’s about human reactions to disappointment, the desire for miracles, and the admiration for heroes. While AI can make games more fair, it cannot replace the emotions and stories that make the World Cup so captivating across generations.
In conclusion: AI can define facts, but it cannot define the meaning of life; it can enforce rules, but it cannot replace human warmth and empathy. The World Cup teaches us that in the age of AI, we must never forget that humans are the true protagonists.