Worldwide rollout for referee bodycams set to change the game

July 31 – Football’s lawmakers have given the green light for referee body cameras to be rolled out worldwide. 

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved extending the trial of the technology to domestic and international competitions across the globe, following what they’re calling “successful tests” at this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States. 

The big question now is whether the Premier League will bite the bullet and introduce the cameras for the 2025-26 season – a move that’s currently “under consideration” by the powers that be. 

We’ve already had a taste of what’s coming. Jarred Gillett became the first Premier League referee to strap on a body camera during Crystal Palace’s clash with Manchester United back in May 2024, though that footage was kept under wraps and described as a “one-off” for a documentary about match officials. 

But this time it’s different. Any competition wanting to join the party will need to get the nod from both IFAB and FIFA – the same process used when other game-changing innovations like in-stadium VAR announcements were introduced. 

The man driving this revolution is Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s referees committee and one of the most respected former officials in world football. The Italian has been singing the praises of body cameras since their Club World Cup debut. 

“We had the possibility to see what the referee sees on the field of play,” Collina told FIFA’s official website in July. “And this was not only for entertainment purposes, but also for coaching the referees (and) to explain why something was not seen on the field of play.” 

The Italian, who officiated some of the biggest profile games in history, revealed the technology “went beyond our expectations” during the tournament, offering viewers what he called a “new experience.” 

Body cameras started life in English grassroots football back in 2023, aimed at improving player and supporter behaviour towards match officials. 

Now IFAB says other competitions have “the option to test such systems and provide valuable information and feedback” as they look to “develop quality and safety standards” for the technology’s future use.