Sportian extends partnership with Belgian Pro League to create a full data ecosystem

Belgian Pro League has introduced new sports data innovations powered by Sportian Performance. With three major innovations and all data captured by Performance, the Pro League and its clubs are investing in their sports development to get closer to the top of the European game. 

From next season, Pro League teams across men’s, women’s and youth football will have access to high-quality sports data and enhanced analysis capabilities with new range of data and tracking solutions that will be centralized on Sportian’s data visualization and analysis platform, Sportian Performance. 

Camera technology innovation for better game analysis

Starting in the 2025-26 season, at least 12 automated cameras will be installed in each Jupiler Pro League club stadium, and 8 cameras at Challenger Pro League clubs. This new technology will provide significantly more accurate images, which are crucial for tactical analysis and the collection of both event and tracking data. Thanks to these advanced cameras, not only will players be better mapped, but their actions and physical performances can also be analyzed in greater detail.

Using advanced automated cameras it will be possible to monitor and analyze both collective gameplay and individual player performances with much greater precision. This upgrade will allow for significant advancements in tactical analysis, data collection, and even the determination of crucial moments such as offsides.

Integrated data platform for youth, women, and first teams
All collected data – from youth, women’s, and first teams – will be centralized on one platform: Sportian Performance. This platform, which is used by other major competitions such as LALIGA, will allow clubs to perform both video and data analysis, providing a complete overview of players’ performances and developments across all age categories and competitions.

“We’re proud to be forming this unique project with Pro League that will empower its teams at all levels to elevate their game through performance data insights and smart decision-making. Our Performance platform is born from a vision to raise the competitive level of sports competitions leveraging smart data and has been honed by years of development with the coaching experts of LALIGA, its participating clubs, and the technological muscle of Globant. This platform, as part of the wider Sportian and Globant ecosystem, offers an integrated suite of solutions that not only enhance performance but also create a robust foundation for innovation and growth in the world of sports. Working alongside Pro League, we are certain that this new solution will bring lasting results across its entire football ecosystem”, said Alejandro Scannapieco, Sportian CEO.

Limb-tracking: From 50 to 10.000 data points per frame

One of the most groundbreaking innovations is the introduction of limb-tracking technology. Where previously only 50 data points were collected per frame, the new cameras in the Jupiler Pro League will capture no less than 10,000 data points per frame. This will allow even the smallest movements of each player’s body parts to be tracked with precision. For the Challenger Pro League, this is an absolute first, as tracking data will be collected for the first time using the same advanced system as in the Jupiler Pro League.

“If you’re not the biggest, you have to try to be the smartest. That’s why, in collaboration with our clubs, we are investing heavily in new technologies from 2025 onwards,” explained Pro League CEO Lorin Parys. “Belgium will be the only country in Europe to collect and centralise sports data from U13 level upwards. This will enable us to focus more than ever on developing talent. For the first time, we will be collecting tracking and event data for our women’s competition. Only the Bundesliga and the Premier League do this. Our Jupiler Pro League will get a serious boost, as we will be installing at least 12 tactical cameras in each stadium, instead of the current 3, to improve tactical analysis. In the future, we will no longer measure 1 point on a player’s body, but more than 40. We will be the only ones to do this in the two highest leagues.

“We process all this information and store it in a central environment. This is where the clubs, TV channels and RBFA can easily exchange data, a system that is currently only used in LALIGA. These investments benefit not only the clubs and players, but also the fans. Because VAR will draw a semi-automatic offside line using artificial intelligence, waiting times are reduced and decisions are improved. All this will also be more transparent, as the 3D offside wall will be visible on television. A premiere for a national competition on the European continent. Finally, fans will receive more data on television, which will further enhance the viewer experience. We look forward to using these new features to take our football to an even higher level next season”.

Big leap forward for women’s and youth football

The women’s competition, the Lotto Super League, will be supported by SciSports’ event and tracking data technologies starting next season. All clubs will gain detailed insights into their players’ performances, helping them further professionalize. For the first time, the physical and tactical performances of the female players will be captured and analyzed at a comparable level to the men’s competitions.

In youth football, performances from U13 teams onwards will also be monitored and analyzed by SciSports. This will enable clubs to track the development of their young talents and compare them with peers both within and outside the club. This data provides clubs with a valuable benchmarking tool to better guide youth players in their development.

“SciSports is thrilled to partner with the Pro League in a groundbreaking initiative aimed at advancing insights into women’s and youth football in Belgium. By collecting and analyzing vast amounts of data at both player and team levels, we are enabling the Pro League and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) to make informed decisions in player monitoring and development. This partnership marks a significant milestone, as the Pro League becomes the first European league to invest in comprehensive youth data collection from U13 teams onwards.

This initiative underscores the Pro League’s commitment to fostering the next generation of talent and setting a new standard for youth development across Europe. We are incredibly proud to support this vision and look forward to contributing to the long-term success of youth football in Belgium,” said Vincent van Renesse, Chief Executive Officer of SciSports.

Semi-automated offside technology: faster, more accurate, and more transparent

A semi-automated offside technology will be introduced in Jupiler Pro League stadiums. Powered by GeniusIQ, Genius Sports’ next-generation sports data and artificial intelligence, this new system has been built on the key principles of speed and precision to minimise breaks in the game and deliver accuracy.

AI will automatically select both the best camera angle and the correct frame of the pass moment, and it will draw the offside line, all within seconds. This technology not only enables quicker decisions but also allows for greater transparency towards fans by displaying the images clearly.

Paul Hunt, Sports Business Director at Genius Sports, said: “We’re delighted to partner with the Pro League to implement cutting-edge mesh tracking technology and a suite of performance, fan engagement and officiating solutions, all powered by GeniusIQ. Equipping the Pro League with mesh data is a quantum leap forward for Belgian football, capturing billions of data points from every game to create incredible new opportunities, including semi-automated offsides technology, augmented broadcasts, in-depth team and player analysis and much more. We look forward to working with the Pro League to put them at the forefront of data-driven innovation in European football.”