A PICTURE of the hi-tech World Cup 2022 footballs being CHARGED before kick-off has left fans baffled.
The Adidas ball has a sensor inside that measures data such as speed and direction and allows for ball-tracking and offside calls by the VAR.
A photo uploaded to Reddit revealed the fluro-coloured balls being charged, like a mobile phone, from a power board before a match.
One fan said: "Does it need an app to roll?"
Another added: "Headline in the future: Balls uncharged, Championship match postponed."
One wrote: "I'm getting old, I remember when we used to put air in those."
The sensor is powered by a small battery, which can last for six hours of active use, or up to 18 days when not.
The sensor weighs only 14 grams and gives ball-tracking during the game with cameras positioned around the pitch helping referees to determine offsides and other decisions.
Maximillian Schmidt, co-founder and managing director of KINEXON, who manufactured the sensor, opened up on how it works.
Schmidt said: "Any time the ball is kicked, headed, thrown or even so much as tapped, the system picks it up at 500 frames per second.
"Data is sent in real time from sensors to a local positioning system (LPS), which involves a setup of network antennas installed around the playing field that take in and store the data for immediate use.
"When a ball flies out of bounds during the course of play, and a new ball is thrown or kicked in to replace it, KINEXON's backend system automatically switches to the new ball's data input without the need for human intervention."
The Adidas was created to be lightning fast, something England's Kieran Trippier said has been a struggling for set-pieces.
Trippier said: "Every time I've crossed the ball I've felt the balls are a bit different but there are no excuses really.
"I would just say the balls are a bit different, but it is not the heat or anything. I feel it's a bit lighter.
"It feels if you put too much power on it it'll just fly away."
Tesbdeklmt
0
sakd
rinclort
0
I fear someone will use remote controller to control the direction of the ball
Harry_99
1
Ronaldo hates that sensor
yueacnops
0
the future is here
Sewikor
2
This was how they knew the goal was for Bruno and not for Ronaldo ๐
fkmadridsukdik
0
and now we get it how madrid wins
Caliko34
1
so balls are charged ๐๐๐ if I'm not mistaken this WC will be the poorest in the use of VAR
emilnimmi
1
So the extra 14 grams made it lighter
MkonoJr
0
Ronaldo why you lying !??
zihbdiopu
0
Maybe it was low battery when Ronaldo touched it
Weoacnruy
0
cancel messi n ronaldo as the best.. technology is goat now
official_uto
0
are they not directing these ball where to go when it been kicked? I don't like this really!
Old generation
OnlyHalamadrid
0
I will tell my kids we used to put ain in football
and we still do that and billions time better than this. Technology going to ruin our beautiful sports
kasmops
1
are they not directing these ball where to go when it been kicked? I don't like this really!
incontrovertible
3
I will tell my kids we used to put ain in football
incontrovertible
0
Do they come with remote control and direction change?
good question what if they come up with that in future that could spell the end of football as we know it
Zihacilsuy
5
How will this work in Nigeria? NEPA wahala
Banks10
3
Do they come with remote control and direction change?