FIFA has announced that referees will wear body cameras during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This is a trial to explore using cameras for live broadcasts and to enhance referee training. The International Football Association Board has approved these cameras on a trial basis to assess their future uses and to set quality and safety standards.
These body cameras will provide a first-person perspective of the referee`s view. They will be used in Club World Cup broadcasts, offering fans a new viewpoint. Additionally, they will be a valuable tool for referee coaching, allowing officials and fans to understand the referee`s perspective and decision-making process.
Pierluigi Collina, chair of the FIFA Referees Committee, highlighted that this is an experiment to give viewers a unique visual experience. He also emphasized the coaching benefits, stating that seeing what the referee sees is crucial for evaluating decisions during debriefings. This initiative aims to improve both broadcast experiences and referee development.
The use of referee cameras follows successful pilot programs in English grassroots football in 2023, where they helped improve player and supporter conduct towards referees. Body cameras were also tested in the Premier League and Bundesliga last season, including during a match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
In other news, FIFA has also introduced a rule change for the Club World Cup. Referees will now award corner kicks, instead of indirect free kicks, when a goalkeeper holds the ball for over eight seconds to waste time.
Dominic Ashworth