LaLiga turns match ball into new data engine
LaLiga will become the first national professional football competition to deploy connected-ball technology across every top-flight match, creating a new officiating and broadcast data layer through technology developed with PUMA and KINEXON.
LaLiga will roll out connected-ball technology across every LaLiga EA Sports fixture from the opening matchday of 2026-27, becoming the first domestic professional football competition to deploy the system at scale.Developed alongside PUMA and KINEXON, the technology will operate with VAR and semi-automated offside technology and provide officials with real-time information on the ball’s position and the precise moment of contact.The league said the system is designed to make decisions more objective in incidents involving offsides, handballs, deflections, touches, corners and double contacts, where milliseconds can affect an outcome.At the centre of the system is a radio-frequency sensor built into PUMA’s official match ball. Its data will be captured by around 12 antennas installed at each LaLiga stadium.One of the most visible applications will be a ball “heartbeat” signal identifying the exact moment of contact, reducing uncertainty over frame selection during marginal offside reviews.That signal will also be incorporated into broadcasts, with graphics and visualisations designed to make refereeing decisions easier for viewers and commentators to understand.The project also creates a new commercial and media product for LaLiga. The league is launching xBALL, an official match-data layer intended to support broadcast innovation, digital products, analysis and fan engagement.xBALL will allow media partners to display information including shot speed, spin and ball trajectory, with the data compatible with LaLiga’s international broadcast feed and future second-screen experiences.The additional data layer gives LaLiga scope to enhance its rights proposition beyond the live match itself, providing broadcasters and digital partners with new information that can be incorporated into coverage and fan-facing products.Each fixture will use 14 connected balls under a standardised operating protocol covering charging, verification, connectivity and ball management. The technology will only be used during official matches rather than training or warm-ups.LaLiga said blind player testing found no perceptible difference between connected and standard balls in weight, balance, trajectory, feel or overall performance.Referees and VAR officials will undergo dedicated training led by Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees to support consistent implementation across all venues.LaLiga expects to extend the technology to second-tier LaLiga Hypermotion from the 2027-28 season, potentially establishing connected-ball data as a permanent part of its officiating and media infrastructure.