One of the innovations introduced by FIFA at the Club World Cup, which takes place until July 13 in the United States, is the production of images by a camera hanging from the referee.
The equipment, coupled to the microphone already used by the communication judges, captures the games bids and sends the images through a 5G private network to the television broadcasting producer, which selects excerpts to display.
The chosen clips are of non -controversial moments, such as goals and clear faults, thus helping to understand more complex bids and decisions. The images are not used by VAR (video referee).
The purpose of the novelty, which is in the testing phase and may or may not be expanded to depend on the results obtained in the tournament, is to bring the fan closer to the grass experience.
“Having a camera used by the judge will give viewers the possibility of putting themselves in the referee’s shoes, and they will see what the referee sees during the match,” Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA arbitration committee, said. “I think it will offer the possibility to viewers to understand how difficult the judge’s work is.”
Only stadiums that also receive games from NFL (Football League) have the technology necessary for the transmission of 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 in the shirt of the shirt, in base alloys games. The goal there was to monitor players’ behavior and avoid abuse and disrespect, as well as producing material that can be used in training the referees themselves.
The initiative was approved by IFAB (International Football Association Board), a body that regulates the laws of the sport.
More recently, cameras were also used in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup.
