Arsenal to introduce in-match replays via PSP

Arsenal fans may be able to watch instant replays of goals and tackles on their PSP while attending matches at the team’s Emirates Stadium.

The club’s commercial director Adrian Ford said a Sony-developed application will enable PSP owners to watch near-instant replays, view data and statistics and receive live streaming video of a game, according to Reuters.

Ford revealed the system has been tested and could be officially launched within the next 18 months.

Sony Europe’s director of retail, transport and venues Eric Siereveld expanded on the technology’s potential, claiming a future iteration could even support in-game communities among the attending fans. He hailed the service as the next technological step for Arsenal’s state-of-the-art stadium.

This device will bring an extra dimension to the game with information and statistics,” he said. But we think the next generation of the software that runs it could actually link fans during the game with each other.”

Arsenal fans can already watch pre-match entertainment and in-match statistics on hi-definition screens in Emirates Stadium.

Ford said: What we are trying to do is pump a variety of different entertainment on to those screens to help you arrive earlier and maybe stay later. There are a few rights issues that we have to overcome but on the basis that we do that, we think it’s a product we can offer to our fans within the next 18 months of so.”