FIFA has announced that referees will wear body cameras at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This is a trial to see if the cameras can be used for live broadcasts and to help train referees.
The International Football Association Board has approved the use of these cameras on a trial basis. The goal is to explore how they can be used in the future and to set quality and safety standards.
These body cameras will show a first-person view from the referee`s perspective. They will be used in Club World Cup game broadcasts and as a tool for referee coaching and training. Fans and FIFA officials will get a direct view of what the referee sees and what influences their decisions.
Pierluigi Collina, chair of the FIFA Referees Committee, said this is a trial to give viewers a new viewing experience from a perspective never seen before. He also mentioned it will help in referee coaching by allowing evaluation of referee decisions based on their viewpoint. It serves both as a new broadcast feature and for coaching purposes.
Referee cameras were first tested in English grassroots football in 2023 to improve player and supporter behavior towards referees. They were also used in the Premier League last season during a Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United game and tested in the Bundesliga.
FIFA also announced a rule change for the Club World Cup: referees will award corners instead of indirect free-kicks if a goalkeeper wastes time by holding the ball for over eight seconds.
