Ex-national player Fabian Ernst develops smart soccer

The former Schalke player becomes a founding investor. The start-up Sport Technology Systems is to develop a smart soccer.

The 24-time international Fabian Ernst becomes a founding investor in a start-up in Hanover. "Every area of the game has been completely illuminated," the 41-year-old told Deutsche Presse Agentur. "Only the ball is still an untouched topic." He now wants to change that: The start-up Sport Technology Systems is developing a soccer with a chip that can measure all the data from a soccer match, including altitude, speed and every touch.

The first prototype comes from the USA. "The ball developed there was already good. But it was still in its infancy," Ernst tells dpa. "We are currently refining the whole thing." The ball should be on the market this summer. Ernst sees the benefits not only for professional teams, but also for amateurs and youth teams. That's why the ball with app should cost "well under 100 euros". The DFB is also already showing interest. "Fabian Ernst's start-up is a very good example of the positive trend of current and former players getting actively involved in the development of innovations and technologies," Mirko Dismer, Head of Performance, Technology and Innovation, told dpa. He is pleased "that we will also be entering into an exchange with Fabian Ernst's start-up in the near future."