By: Abioye Michael

The advent of technology has made life more seamless and efficient, transforming every aspect of human endeavor, including entertainment, journalism, science, and  various other industries . Football, also known as soccer, is no exception. Football, like many other sports, benefits from  digital innovation.

For instance, the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology helps in  enhancing the fairness and accuracy of officiating in football, allowing referees to make more precise decisions during controversial moments. Additionally, modern technology has led to the expansion of the global reach of soccer, driving substantial revenue growth through sponsorship deals, broadcasting rights, and an ever-growing international fan base.

The technological advancement, by extension, offers football fans the affordability of enjoying the comfort of  streaming football matches on  their smart devices without the need to visit viewing centers. However, this digital transformation  has its drawbacks, which are becoming increasingly apparent, especially with the common use of live score apps among some football fans at various viewing centers in Nigeria.

The pervasive use of  live score applications like FlashScore and liveScore, has  notably reshaped  fan engagement with football by providing real-time updates, detailed statistics and instant notifications about a football game. However, this immediacy comes at a cost as it undermines the suspense buildup attached to  watching a televised  football game.

Across viewing centers in Nigeria and beyond, the widespread use of live score apps is changing the experience of watching broadcast games with some football fans blurting out score updates before goals are even shown on live streams. Only those watching live matches in stadiums are unaffected by this growing trend.

As a result, some fans have ceased to visit viewing centers, preferring the solitude of their homes. While live score apps offer real-time updates and convenience, they also strip broadcast football of its core essence, which includes the shared tension, the drama of a VAR decision, and the euphoria of witnessing a goal live.

This trend is equally apparent at the University of Ibadan where  student football fans using live score apps often call out  goals  before they appear on screen in their various common rooms , undermining the communal excitement that comes with watching a football game together. In interviews with IndyPress, some football fans have shared their thoughts  regarding the development.

Speaking to IndyPress, Emmanuel, a  football fan, decried the instant notifications of live score apps, claiming that it diminishes the excitement of watching the goals happen live.

“If I want to be notified of each goal before it happens on TV, I’d  rather stay in my room than go to a viewing centre,” Emmanuel said.

His opinion underscores the sentiment shared by many football fans that the enjoyment of football lies in communal viewing.

According to Olatoyan Victor, a resident of the Great Independence Hall, the instant notifications provided by these live score apps can offer a sense of relief, especially when the goal is in favor of one’s team in moments where one cannot deal with the pressure. However, he told IndyPress that he prefers watching the goals happen live to getting notifications.

Adekunle Ogooluwa, another football fan, is of the opinion that fans should always turn off live score app notifications while watching a match. The failure to do so, he said, diminishes the entertainment value of the game.

“In a case where one is opportuned to tune in and watch, there’s an option of disabling push notifications to enjoy your match,” Adekunle said.

It is very important that football fans at the University of Ibadan and Nigeria by extension understand that the main purpose of watching football games at viewing centers is to enjoy the genuine entertainment  they offer. As Adekunle Ogooluwa  has suggested, fans should always disable their live score applications notifications to preserve the suspense  attached to football games. This small act of digital self-control can rekindle the passion and suspense that a televised game  deserves at a viewing center

The magic of football lies in its suspense and  unpredictability. By taking simple steps like turning off notifications, fans can fully reconnect with the heart-pounding drama that makes up the entertainment value of the game.