The Premier League is widely known as the best, most competitive league in the world.
It attracts stars from all over the world, and English football has been dominating the European stage especially throughout the last 6 years.
Its amazing blend of tactical brilliance, athleticism, and support all around the world creates an electric atmosphere that sets it apart from any other league on the planet.
But, like every big organisation, it has its flaws.
Injuries.
The media have been questioning big clubs, especially Manchester City, who fall behind 8 points (as of the end of November) league leaders and fierce rivals, Liverpool.
However, both these clubs share significant injuries such as key, integral players like Rodri missing from Man City, and Alisson missing from Liverpool.
The list of injuries for both these clubs combined is too long to list, which is a concern in itself.
Essentially, the league has a contract with Nike.
This means Nike designs and supplies the match balls to the league.
Of course, having Nike onboard with the best league in the world is a great look for both organisations involved.
However, their technology isn’t developed as much as their rivals, Adidas.
Adidas incorporates Connected Ball Technology in some of their footballs, such the ones used in the FIFA World Cup 2022.
This technology uses a suspended inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor located at the ball’s core.
The IMU sensor tracks the ball’s precise position and movement 500 times per second, providing real time data to match officials and to help in decisions like tight offsides.
This system works seamlessly with semi-automated offside technology, combining the ball’s data with tracking cameras to decide offside situations quickly and accurately.
Nike doesn’t currently offer similar connected technology in their footballs, relying instead on traditional designs without integrated sensors.
With Nike not offering this technology, it is common knowledge to football fans that VAR in the Premier League is notorious for being poor mainly due to the fact that officials take so long to come to a decision, and most of their decisions have caused controversy.
However, the main point that they take so long to come to a decision is the main contributor to the increase in injuries throughout the seasons.
On average last season, it took VAR 64 seconds to come to a decision.
It may not sound like a long time, but one minute gives enough time for the players’ working muscles to cool down and essentially switch off.
Then, the sudden burst in movement once play resumes has caused prolonged injuries such as problems with hamstrings especially.
This may sound like a theory, but it is no coincidence that last season, the Premier League accounted for 44% of all the total injuries within Europe’s top 5 leagues.
The greed of the Premier League has led to players suffering as a consequence, as they receive £40 million a year from Nike, much more than what Bundesliga receive.
