Innovation introduced by FIFA at the Club World Cup is the production of images by a camera hanging on the referees
One of the innovations introduced by FIFA at the Club World Cup, which runs until July 13 in the United States, is the production of images by a camera hanging from the referee’s head. The equipment, attached to the microphone already used by the referees for communication, captures the game’s moves and sends the images via a private 5G network to the television broadcast producer, who selects the segments to be shown.
The clips chosen are from non-controversial moments, such as goals and clear fouls, and therefore do little to help understand more complex plays and decisions. The images are not used by the VAR (video assistant referee). The aim of the new feature, which is in the testing phase and may or may not be expanded depending on the results obtained in the tournament, is to bring fans at home closer to the experience on the pitch.
“Having a camera used by the referee will give viewers the possibility of putting themselves in the referee’s shoes, and they will see what the referee sees during the match,” said Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. “I think it will give viewers the possibility of understanding how difficult the referee’s job is.”
Only the stadiums that also host NFL (American Football League) games have the technology necessary to broadcast the images: Atlanta (Georgia), Charlotte (North Carolina), Miami (Florida), East Rutherford (New Jersey), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) and Seattle (Washington).
In 2023, referees in England participated in tests with a body camera, positioned on the chest of their shirts, in youth league games. The aim was to monitor the behavior of players and prevent situations of abuse and disrespect, in addition to producing material that could be used in the training of the referees themselves. The initiative was approved by the IFAB (International Football Association Board), the body that regulates the laws of the sport.
More recently, the cameras were also used in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup.
