Club World Cup: FIFA to debut body cameras for referees
FIFA has announced its team of 117 match officials for the inaugural expanded Club World Cup, set to take place across the United States from June 14 to July 13. In a landmark move, referees will wear body cameras, and new rules will be introduced to crack down on goalkeeper time-wasting.The FIFA Referees Committee has selected officials from 41 member associations, including 35 referees, 58 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials for the 32-team tournament, which spans 12 stadiums across 11 U.S. cities.advertisementAccording to FIFA, the introduction of body cameras will offer fans an unprecedented perspective on the action, capturing the game from the referee's point of view. The body cam has been used very few times in football, but it has always been appreciated by the fans for its unique point of view.
Additionally, a stricter rule will penalise goalkeepers who hold onto the ball for more than eight seconds—opposing teams will now be awarded a corner kick instead of an indirect free kick."This is a great opportunity to give viewers a new experience, with footage from angles that have never been available before," said Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. "It also serves a valuable purpose in referee development, as being able to see exactly what a referee sees is crucial during training and debriefings."advertisementCollina also emphasised the historic nature of the appointments, noting that the tournament marks a significant milestone as the first edition of the Club World Cup in its expanded format."The referees selected have the unique privilege of being part of this first-ever edition. I'm sure they're all excited," he said. "We've seen high standards of officiating in recent FIFA tournaments, so expectations are higher than ever. Maintaining that level is a challenge, but 'Team One' is working hard to contribute to the success of this groundbreaking competition."Trending Reel
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