The Glazer family is reportedly hoping to incorporate wearable augmented reality devices into Manchester United players.
United’s American owners are said to be interested in technology that allows fans to watch matches as if from the perspective of their favorite stars thanks to cameras placed on each player’s body.
According to a report by ESPNThe concept was championed within the club as a possible source of income by former United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
“The big idea, or perhaps the big hope, that the Glazers have – and this was driven by Ed Woodward – is the emergence of Augmented Reality,” a source told the American publication.
“Technology already exists whereby a player could have an AR device on their body and a fan anywhere in the world could pay a small fee to experience a game through the eyes of their favorite player.
The Glazer family is reportedly in favor of using augmented reality technology to provide a unique viewing experience for Manchester United fans.
The concept, championed by Ed Woodward, would see players wear cameras, allowing fans to see the action from their perspective.
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“Imagine how much United could generate from their huge global fan base if fans could pay to be Marcus Rashford or Bruno Fernandes for 90 minutes.”
Although augmented reality has not yet been fully implemented in the context of football, players using cameras during games have been tested in the past to offer fans a unique perspective.
In July, Youri Tielemans made his debut for Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in the United States.
Youri Tielemans wore a body camera when he debuted for Aston Villa against Newcastle in pre-season
However, plans for AR implementation would require the IFAB to change the rule prohibiting players from using devices in competitive games.
Throughout his involvement, the midfielder’s actions were recorded on a body camera worn under his shirt, and footage later shared by the Premier League provided a fascinating insight into the game.
However, despite positive reviews from players chosen to test the technology in pre-season, a larger-scale rollout is unlikely to happen any time soon.
IFAB laws currently prohibit the use of body cameras in competitive football, although trials have been carried out on their use by referees to deter bad behavior at grassroots level.