Leaders Week 2025: "We wanted to improve the game with technology" (J. Holzmüller, FIFA)

"The Frank Lampard incident (see below) was the moment where a lot changed within FIFA when it comes to innovation technology. From the beginning, we were working closely with different tech providers. One of these tech providers was already Hawk-Eye (owned by Sony). Over time, we developed many other technologies, like VAR, semi-automated offside technology (SAOT). We decided at a certain point that we wanted to work closer together with one sports tech company. The main reason was to improve the game. Hawk-Eye wanted to improve the game. So why not come together? They bring all the expertise from the tech side and we bring all the expertise from the football side," said Johannes Holzmüller, director of Innovation at FIFA, during Leaders Week 2025, a sports business conference held at the Allianz Stadium (formerly Twickenham) in London (ENG) on 01/10/2025.

"The Football Tech Center joint venture (between FIFA and Sony) is unique in a way that we are focusing mainly on developing it for football, meaning we want to give back, not only with Hawk-Eye, but also other tech providers can…