ABSTRACT
The role of sport officials (referees, judges, umpires, etc.) is vitally important in organized sport competitions. Consequently, the loss of these officials is detrimental to sport. Yet, the actual number of sport officials in a variety of sports and levels of competition is in decline. Further complicating the situation is that some sport officials have not acted professionally and exposure of some of this inappropriate behaviour and actions is presented. The discussion then turns to the state of development of artificial intelligence, and in particular how this technology can be programmed to work in conjunction with human sport officials during competitions. Scenarios are offered outlining “a way forward” in sport management regarding an application of this technology to sport officiating. Debate is encouraged on the acceptability/unacceptability of its use in sport. Those in sport management must determine how machine intelligence can integrate with human sport officials in the quest for excellence in officiating during sport competitions. These technologies are a critical component in efforts to achieve unbiased excellence in sport officiating.
