The technology will be utilized in selected matches throughout this season and the next one. The data collected will be displayed at half-time and at the end of the matches and is part of the 2017-2020 Pro League Committee strategy.

The UAE Pro League Committee (PLC), UAE’s professional association football league, is implementing a players’ performance tracking system in partnership with wTVision and STATS. The first matches to include the new technology were already broadcasted successfully in September.

The system employed by wTVision tracks players movements during the matches providing accurate data about their speed and positioning, and heatmaps regarding their movements and distance covered. This data is then converted into insightful graphics that are an invaluable tool to better understand the match, its events and outcome.

Speaking to BroadcastPro ME, Waleed Ebrahim Alhosani, Chief Executive Officer of Pro League Committee, commented: “At the PLC, we believe that football, just like life, evolves continuously. Innovation is an important part of our 2017-2020 strategy, so we are implementing new technologies that can support the growth of the Arabian Gulf League and its stakeholders. The Tracking & Heat Maps System will provide us with in-depth data about our matches, and that will benefit broadcasters, analysts and our media partners by adding a reliable source of information.”

The data collected by the new system will be displayed at half-time and at the end of the match. wTVision’s Middle East Operations Coordinator, André Chagas, highlighted “the honour to take wTVision partnership with PLC to the next level and, at the same time, allow Arabian Gulf League and Arabian Gulf Cup football fans to access a strong set of innovative data. UAE fans will have a deeper understanding of the teams and players performances with accumulated distances, top speed, possession, accuracy passes and heat maps; all in real-time.”