Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology

Adidas designed the Telstar's 12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons so the ball would be easy to see on the black-and-white TVs most fans still owned in 1970.

Source: Adidas / FIFA, news.adidas.com/timeline/how-adidas-has-shaped-the-history-of-world-cup-balls-from-1970-to-the-present-day · recall

After a confrontational Argentina-England quarter-final at the 1966 World Cup, referee Ken Aston saw a traffic light change and thought 'yellow, take it easy; red, stop'; the cards debuted at the 1970 World Cup.

Source: History.com / Smithsonian Magazine, history.com/articles/yellow-red-cards-1966-world-cup · recall

On a rain-soaked pitch in Bern, Adi Dassler's longer screw-in studs gave West Germany's players better traction than Hungary's fixed leather studs, helping the underdogs win 3-2 in the 'Miracle of Bern'.

Source: DFB (German FA), dfb.de/en/news/detail/world-cup-rewind-1954-the-miracle-of-bern-187757 · recall

VAR made its World Cup debut in France's opening match against Australia in 2018, confirming a foul on Antoine Griezmann and awarding a penalty.

Source: FIFA Museum, fifamuseum.com/en/explore/fifamuseumplus/past-exhibitions/innovation-in-action/the-first-time-var-made-its-fifa-world-cup-debut-with-griezmann · recall

FIFA picked GoalControl-4D over Hawk-Eye and two other rivals for the 2014 World Cup, first used in the opening match between Brazil and Croatia.

Source: Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/116659-first-football-soccer-fifa-world-cup-to-use-goal-line-technology · recall

At the 2022 World Cup, 12 tracking cameras captured up to 29 data points on each player 50 times per second to help make faster, more accurate offside calls.

Source: FIFA, inside.fifa.com/innovation/world-cup-2022/semi-automated-offside-technology · recall

Unemployed football fan Heine Allemagne spent 14 years developing vanishing spray, which made its World Cup debut in the Brazil-Croatia opening match in 2014, after years of use in South American football.

Source: Cross-checked histories of vanishing spray's invention · recall

An exhibition match between two Sheffield teams under floodlights at Bramall Lane on 14 October 1878 is recognised as the first floodlit football match, though the Football League did not sanction competitive floodlit games until 1956.

Source: Cross-checked histories of football's first floodlit match · recall

British ball-maker William Sykes patented rubber-lined goalkeeper gloves in 1885, but adoption was slow; River Plate's Amadeo Carrizo became the first goalkeeper widely recognised for wearing them regularly, in the 1940s and 50s.

Source: Cross-checked histories of goalkeeper glove development · recall

QPR installed an Omniturf artificial pitch at Loftus Road in 1981; after years of player complaints, the Football Association banned artificial pitches from the top flight in 1991.

Source: Cross-checked histories of QPR's artificial pitch · recall

Kettering Town wore 'Kettering Tyres' on their shirts in January 1976, but the FA ruled it illegal; Liverpool's 1979 deal with Hitachi became the first officially accepted shirt sponsorship in English football.

Source: Cross-checked histories of English football shirt sponsorship · recall

Former Liverpool player Craig Johnston developed around 1,000 prototypes, starting from rubber wrapped around his boot, before Adidas launched the Predator in 1994 with rubber fins to improve grip and swerve.

Source: Cross-checked histories of the Adidas Predator's invention · recall

Published after the Hillsborough disaster, the Taylor Report recommended all-seater stadiums; the top two English divisions were required to comply by August 1994.

Source: Cross-checked histories of the Taylor Report · recall

The Azteca's synthetic construction, with an Aztec-inspired design honouring host Mexico, kept its shape better than leather in wet conditions and at altitude.

Source: Cross-checked histories of Adidas World Cup match balls · recall

Everton installed undersoil heating at Goodison Park in 1958, using 20 miles of wire, though other clubs were slow to follow: Liverpool did not install their own system until 1980.

Source: Cross-checked histories of Goodison Park's undersoil heating · recall

Alan Ball wore white boots in the 1970 Charity Shield, the first coloured football boots; they were sold as Hummel's, though Ball later said the pair he actually wore were Adidas boots painted white because the Hummel ones hurt his feet.

Source: Cross-checked histories of Alan Ball's white boots · recall

Players and goalkeepers, including England coach Fabio Capello, criticised the Jabulani's unpredictable swerve and dip, blaming its unusually light construction.

Source: Cross-checked reporting on the 2010 Jabulani ball controversy · recall

Squad numbers and shirt names became compulsory across the Premier League from August 1993, replacing the traditional 1-11 match-day numbering.

Source: Cross-checked histories of Premier League squad numbering · recall

The BBC broadcast a 15-minute segment of a friendly between Arsenal and Arsenal Reserves on 16 September 1937, the first football match shown on live television.

Source: Guinness World Records, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/777845-first-televised-football-soccer-broadcast · recall

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium opened in 1999 with the UK's first fully retractable roof; the 2001 FA Community Shield became the first football match played under it closed.

Source: Principality Stadium official site, principalitystadium.wales/information/about-the-venue · recall

From 1986 the World Cup ball was fully synthetic.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

The foam made it a little faster and more water-resistant.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

Its design was inspired by space travel and the American space programme.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

Blue, white and red recalled the French flag, with a Gallic rooster in the design.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

Its colours and triangles drew on Asian culture for the first World Cup in Asia.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

It was a gold version of the tournament ball, for the final in Johannesburg.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

A new Finale has been made for each season since 2000-01.

Source: UEFA, 'The Champions League starball' (uefa.com); adidas · recall

1982, 1990, 1994 and 1998.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

1998, 2002 and the 2010 final.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

Three lion heads decorated each of its triad patterns.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

The brothers had made shoes together since the 1920s.

Source: adidas Group, 'History' (adidas-group.com); PUMA, 'Our history' (about.puma.com) · recall

Adolf, known as Adi, founded Adidas.

Source: adidas Group, 'History' (adidas-group.com); PUMA, 'Our history' (about.puma.com) · recall

Cameras close in on him bending down before the quarter-final against Peru.

Source: PUMA, 'The PUMA King' and 'Pelé and the PUMA King' (about.puma.com) · recall

It became one of the most famous boots of its era.

Source: PUMA, 'The PUMA King' and 'Pelé and the PUMA King' (about.puma.com) · recall

It is still on sale, more than four decades later.

Source: adidas, 'Copa Mundial since 1979' (adidas.com) · recall

It was very light and silver, blue and yellow.

Source: Nike, 'Mercurial: 1998' (nike.com) · recall

Early boots were heavy, ankle-high work boots that soaked up water.

Source: National Football Museum, 'Football boots' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

1968, 1970, 1979 and 1998.

Source: PUMA, 'The PUMA King' and 'Pelé and the PUMA King' (about.puma.com) · recall

1924, 1948, 1949 and 1994.

Source: adidas Group, 'History' (adidas-group.com); PUMA, 'Our history' (about.puma.com) · recall

Adidas and Puma both stayed in the brothers' home town after the split.

Source: adidas Group, 'History' (adidas-group.com); PUMA, 'Our history' (about.puma.com) · recall

FIFA fined the federation and docked World Cup qualifying points; the deduction was later lifted.

Source: FIFA, 'Cameroon kit rulings 2002 and 2004' (inside.fifa.com); BBC Sport reports · recall

They had worn the sleeveless design at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier that year.

Source: FIFA, 'Cameroon kit rulings 2002 and 2004' (inside.fifa.com); BBC Sport reports · recall

He also played some matches as a striker.

Source: Mexican Football Federation, 'Jorge Campos' (miseleccion.mx) · recall

Its deal with Leeds United began the modern replica-kit trade.

Source: National Football Museum, 'Admiral and the replica shirt' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

West Germany wore white, so England changed.

Source: The FA, '1966: England's red shirts' (englandfootball.com) · recall

The team kept the colour after Italy became a republic in 1946.

Source: FIGC, 'Perché la Nazionale veste d'azzurro' (figc.it) · recall

They were 3-0 down and lost 3-1; the grey shirt was never worn again.

Source: Manchester United, 'The grey kit at The Dell, 1996' (manutd.com) · recall

1966, the 1970s, 1986 and 1996.

Source: National Football Museum, 'Admiral and the replica shirt' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

1991, 1994, 2002 and 2004.

Source: FIFA, 'Cameroon kit rulings 2002 and 2004' (inside.fifa.com); BBC Sport reports · recall

Hummel's design is one of the best-remembered World Cup shirts.

Source: Dansk Boldspil-Union, '1986: Danish Dynamite' (dbu.dk); hummel heritage · recall

The gold-plated figure represented Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.

Source: FIFA Museum, 'The Jules Rimet Trophy' (fifamuseum.com); The FA, 'The FA Cup trophy' (thefa.com) · recall

Fattorini & Sons made it; City won it at the first attempt.

Source: FIFA Museum, 'The Jules Rimet Trophy' (fifamuseum.com); The FA, 'The FA Cup trophy' (thefa.com) · recall

The Swiss silversmith Jörg Stadelmann made it in 1967 with its large handles.

Source: UEFA, 'The Champions League trophy' (uefa.com) · recall

Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern, Milan and Liverpool all earned a trophy of their own.

Source: UEFA, 'The Champions League trophy' (uefa.com) · recall

The gold trophy was made to mark the unique feat.

Source: Premier League, 'The Premier League trophy' and 'The gold trophy of 2004' (premierleague.com) · recall

The base has been enlarged to make room for the plaques.

Source: CONMEBOL, 'El trofeo de la Copa Libertadores' (conmebol.com) · recall

France Football first gave the award in 1956.

Source: FIFA Museum, 'The Jules Rimet Trophy' (fifamuseum.com); The FA, 'The FA Cup trophy' (thefa.com) · recall

1911, 1930, 1967 and 1974.

Source: FIFA Museum, 'The Jules Rimet Trophy' (fifamuseum.com); The FA, 'The FA Cup trophy' (thefa.com) · recall

1966, 1973, 1976, 1994 and 2005.

Source: UEFA, 'The Champions League trophy' (uefa.com) · recall

The Meisterschale is known in Germany as the Salatschüssel.

Source: DFL, 'Die Meisterschale' (bundesliga.com) · recall

The grass slides away in three sections, revealing the synthetic surface below.

Source: Tottenham Hotspur, 'Stadium: the retractable pitch' (tottenhamhotspur.com) · recall

The pitch grows outside in daylight and is moved back in for matches.

Source: FC Schalke 04, 'VELTINS-Arena' (schalke04.de) · recall

The dome was a 2002 World Cup venue.

Source: Sapporo Dome, 'Hovering soccer stage' (sapporo-dome.co.jp) · recall

974 is also Qatar's international dialling code.

Source: FIFA, 'Stadium 974' (fifa.com, 2022) · recall

Red has been used for Bayern home games.

Source: FC Bayern, 'Allianz Arena' (allianz-arena.com) · recall

The arch helps hold up the roof and can be seen across London.

Source: Wembley Stadium, 'The arch' (wembleystadium.com) · recall

Eduardo Souto de Moura's design has stands on only two sides.

Source: SC Braga, 'Estádio Municipal de Braga' (scbraga.pt) · recall

1996, 2001, 2005 and 2007.

Source: Johan Cruijff ArenA, 'History' (johancruijffarena.nl) · recall

2001, 2003, 2019 and 2021.

Source: Sapporo Dome, 'Hovering soccer stage' (sapporo-dome.co.jp) · recall

It was the first World Cup stadium designed to be fully dismantled.

Source: FIFA, 'Stadium 974' (fifa.com, 2022) · recall

Floodlights had been used for friendlies for years before the League allowed them.

Source: Portsmouth FC, 'The first Football League floodlit match, 1956' (portsmouthfc.co.uk) · recall

Arsenal won 6-1 under their new lights.

Source: Arsenal FC (arsenal.com) and Manchester United (manutd.com) heritage pages · recall

English papers called Wolves 'champions of the world', and a French journalist proposed a proper test.

Source: Wolverhampton Wanderers, 'The floodlit friendlies' (wolves.co.uk); UEFA, 'How the European Cup began' · recall

One end of the Emirates is called the Clock End too.

Source: Arsenal FC (arsenal.com) and Manchester United (manutd.com) heritage pages · recall

United beat Anderlecht 10-0 there in September 1956.

Source: Manchester United, 'Old Trafford history' and 1956-57 European Cup reports (manutd.com) · recall

UEFA launched the European Cup the following year.

Source: Wolverhampton Wanderers, 'The floodlit friendlies' (wolves.co.uk); UEFA, 'How the European Cup began' · recall

Opponents included Spartak Moscow, Honvéd and Real Madrid.

Source: Wolverhampton Wanderers, 'The floodlit friendlies' (wolves.co.uk); UEFA, 'How the European Cup began' · recall

1878, 1954, 1956 and 2006.

Source: Wolverhampton Wanderers, 'The floodlit friendlies' (wolves.co.uk); UEFA, 'How the European Cup began' · recall

1958, 1968 and 2006.

Source: Arsenal FC (arsenal.com) and Manchester United (manutd.com) heritage pages · recall

The plane crashed at Munich-Riem airport on 6 February 1958.

Source: Arsenal FC (arsenal.com) and Manchester United (manutd.com) heritage pages · recall

His vulcanised rubber ball did not need a pig's bladder inside.

Source: National Football Museum, 'The history of the football' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

Argentina's ball was used before half-time and Uruguay's after; Uruguay won 4-2.

Source: FIFA, 'World Cup 1930: the two balls of the final' (inside.fifa.com) · recall

Older balls were laced shut after the bladder was pumped up.

Source: adidas, 'World Cup balls through history' (adidas.com); FIFA Museum, 'The official match balls' (fifamuseum.com) · recall

Hurst was expected to keep it after his hat-trick; the ball came back to England in 1996.

Source: FIFA, '1966: the final ball's journey' (inside.fifa.com) · recall

Brown leather balls had been the norm until then.

Source: The FA, 'History of the Laws: the white ball' (thefa.com) · recall

Players complained of pain and injury from heading them.

Source: National Football Museum, 'The history of the football' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

It was the orange-brown Challenge 4-Star.

Source: FIFA, '1966: the final ball's journey' (inside.fifa.com) · recall

1855, 1930, 1950 and 1966.

Source: National Football Museum, 'The history of the football' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

1930, 1950 and 1966.

Source: FIFA, '1966: the final ball's journey' (inside.fifa.com) · recall

Heading the laced seam of a wet, heavy ball was painful.

Source: National Football Museum, 'The history of the football' (nationalfootballmuseum.com) · recall

The club later sold the ground to the Scottish FA.

Source: Queen's Park FC, 'Our history' (queensparkfc.co.uk) · recall

Luton's pitch arrived in 1985; Oldham and Preston followed.

Source: EFL, 'Artificial pitches in the Football League' (efl.com) · recall

Preston were the last to replace theirs with grass.

Source: EFL, 'Artificial pitches in the Football League' (efl.com) · recall

Sir Francis Ley built it after a visit to the United States; Derby played there from 1895 to 1997.

Source: Derby County, 'The Baseball Ground' heritage pages (dcfc.co.uk) · recall

The grass had to be replaced again and again.

Source: Johan Cruijff ArenA, 'History' (johancruijffarena.nl) · recall

The pallets can be taken out for concerts and other events.

Source: Principality Stadium, 'The pitch' (principalitystadium.wales) · recall

Big clubs dreaded FA Cup ties there.

Source: Yeovil Town FC, 'Huish: the sloping pitch' (ytfc.net) · recall

1981, 1985, 1996 and 1997.

Source: EFL, 'Artificial pitches in the Football League' (efl.com) · recall

About 1890, 1899, 1996 and 1999.

Source: Principality Stadium, 'The pitch' (principalitystadium.wales) · recall

Two of its shots hit the square woodwork in a 1-0 defeat; the posts are now in the club museum.

Source: AS Saint-Étienne, 'Les poteaux carrés' (asse.fr); Musée des Verts · recall