FIFA has recently announced that referees will don body cameras during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This initiative aims to use the cameras for live match broadcasts and to assist in training referees. The cameras have been permitted for trial use to develop quality and safety standards and assess future applications.

The body cameras, offering a first-person perspective of the referee’s view, will greatly enhance match broadcasts and aid in referee coaching. Fans and FIFA officials will gain insights into the reasoning behind referee calls.

“We believe this provides viewers with a fresh perspective, one that has never been offered before,” said Pierluigi Collina, emphasizing the educational value for referees.

The use of body cameras comes after pilot tests in English amateur football and their introduction into the Premier League, illustrating the evolving landscape of officiating technology.

Additionally, FIFA is instituting a new rule for the tournament, stating that referees will now award corners when a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds, enhancing the pace of the game.