GoalRef - the intelligent football 

The original GoalRef project at ISIS Katrinebjerg developed a prototype for a decision support helping football referees to decide whether a ball has passed the goal line.

The people behind GoalRef have developed a method based on a built-in radio transmitter inside the ball. The signals from the ball are intercepted by receivers fitted on the goal and transmitted to a receiver placed at the referee’s wrist.

The method is patented and has been developed further to the point where GoalRef owner Mercon in the spring of 2011 licensed GoalRef technology to German based Fraunhofer Institute for test and marketing.

In July 2012 the international football federation FIFA decided to introduce goal-line technology to determine whether the ball is in or out. To this end, the federation has given two technologies the seal of approval. One of the technologies is Goalref.

Watch GoalRef in action in this YouTube video. Read the story about Goalref  here.

For further information about GoalRef, please contact:
Peter Andersen, The Alexandra Institute, +45 2338 2479, email: peter.andersen@alexandra.dk
Ulrik Merrild, Mercon,  +45 40 58 40 23, email: um@mercon.dk

Research at Aarhus University has formed the basis for the implementation of secure comunication between football and referee in situations where it cannot be determined when or what to communicate.



His Royal Highness Prince Joachim tries out GoalRef at the opening of the Alexandra Institute’s project hotel in 2004.

The project has developed a working prototype of a system that includes ball and communication to the referee. The system is less expensive and more accurate than similar systems on the market.

The method is patented and has been developed further to the point where GoalRef owner Mercon in the spring of 2011 licensed GoalRef technology to German based Fraunhofer Institute for test and marketing.

In July 2012 the international football federation FIFA decided to introduce goal-line technology to determine whether the ball is in or out. To this end, the federation has given two technologies the seal of approval. One of the technologies is Goalref.

Watch GoalRef in action in this YouTube video. Read the story about Goalref here.

For further information about GoalRef, please contact:
Peter Andersen, The Alexandra Institute, +45 2338 2479, email: peter.andersen@alexandra.dk
Ulrik Merrild, Mercon,  +45 40 58 40 23, email: um@mercon.dk