New technology? Premier League takes a closer look at La Liga’s bold experiment

August 18, 2026 - 01:18

The Premier League is quietly tracking the connected ball technology that La Liga rolled out across all of its matches this season. League officials have been studying the system to see if it might fit into English football down the line. The tech, which embeds sensors inside the match ball, gives referees and VAR teams an extra layer of information when they need to sort out tricky calls like offsides, handballs, deflections, or the rare double touch on a penalty.

It is not a new idea, but La Liga is the first major European league to use it everywhere, every game. The Premier League has not made any firm commitment yet, but the interest is real. The idea would be to use the ball data to back up what the cameras already see, especially in those split-second moments where the naked eye and even slow motion can leave room for doubt. For example, knowing exactly when a ball left a player's foot could settle an offside debate faster and with more confidence.

There are practical questions, though. The system costs money, and clubs would need to agree on how much data is too much. Some managers worry that more tech means more stoppages, not fewer. Still, the league is taking a patient approach. It wants to see how La Liga handles the full season before making any move. If the experiment goes well, English fans might one day see the same system in action at their own grounds, but for now it is just a watching brief.