EuroLeague introduces AI system to appoint referees
The system builds referee crews for every EuroLeague and EuroCup round using 14 rules, aiming for fairer, more balanced appointments and high standards.
EuroLeague has introduced an artificial intelligence system to appoint referees for every round of the EuroLeague and the EuroCup.
The system builds the crews automatically. It works from 14 rules, grouped into three categories: sporting criteria, management of the calendar and workload, and safeguards for fairness and transparency.
Among the inputs are the seniority of each referee and how often they work, their workload, their previous appointments and the competition calendar. The system also takes account of the nationalities within a crew and of repeat appointments to games involving the same teams.
The competition says the aim is a more balanced spread of appointments while keeping refereeing standards high. No start date or trial period was given in the report.
If the system does what is claimed, the repeat-appointment rule is the one clubs are likely to watch most closely.
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