FIFA uses “Refcam” at the club World Cup: Pictures of Schiri cameras are said to be on live television

Bodycams at Schiris should improve the behavior of the players in a test in the amateur area – now FIFA wants to use it commercially in the professional field, the Bundesliga could follow.

“After the positive feedback, we have confirmed that we want to use this technology at the club World Cup as part of the live game transmission,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a message that is spread by the World Association to the General Assembly of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which traditionally advises and decides on the rules of football.

With the so-called “Refcam”-mostly attached to the headset or on the chest of the referee-the TV picture could change decisively with a view to the referees: conversations with the players or the direct perspective of a referee on a controversial situation could find the way into the live broadcast.

From the protection of the referees for commercial use

The IFAB expressly supports FIFA’s procedure. The committee has been testing body cams for referees in the amateur area in England since 2023. The original idea was to improve the behavior of the players with the cameras. The bodycams were tested in amateur football in English. The certainty of being accepted by the referee should have a deterrent to be deterrent when it comes to inappropriate behavior or even violence against referees. The IFAB found “positive effects on the behavior of the players” in the tests.

The test in the amateur area Subject strict guidelines: For example, the referees should only switch on the cameras if necessary, the material had to be deleted after 60 days and was not allowed to be published or shared by the referees themselves. Now with the commercial use of the images by FIFA, a completely different approach follows.

“Refcam” in the Bundesliga? DFB and DFL want to “evaluate experiences”

In the Bundesliga, the “Refcam” was most recently used in a game between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. The camera had its first Bundesliga use in the 2023/24 season in a game between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg, once it was used in the 3rd league. However, the cameras in Germany have not yet been used live.

So far, the bodycams were restricted to the amateur area, the DFB had to get a permit from the Ifab. The Ifab did not allow more than two missions per season and competition. In general, a change of rule would be necessary. Rule 5 – “The Referee” – expressly says in her current versionthat referees are not allowed to wear cameras.

But the development goes towards opening. The associations and organizers of the competitions are currently trying to modernize their TV production. The picture should become more appealing and thus bring more money. In the DFL, too, this was always an issue: clips from the team buses or short interviews directly before the kick -off and many new perspectives should make the Bundesliga more attractive from the 2025/26 season.

Is the “Refcam” now also in the Bundesliga? “We are fundamentally open to measures that can strengthen the position of the referees and improve the understanding of their task,” says Alex Feuerherdt, spokesman for DFB Schiri GmbH, in an interview with the sports show. “And the material can be used for training, for example for a position game or to deal with players.”

In general, generally there is: “We will evaluate the experience at the club World Cup,” says Feuerherdt. At the request of the Sportschau, the DFL announced: “A comprehensive introduction of the ‘Refcam’ in the standard game operation is currently not planned. You are” generally very open to tests in the live context “. The DFL will remain in exchange with DFB Schiri GmbH and IFAB.

Danger: Images do not show the perception of the Referee

But there are dangers. Because camera images do not necessarily show the perception of the referee. “Some pictures may be able to give a wrong impression,” says Feuerherdt. “If, for example, a referee concentrates on the feet in a duel and does not recognize a stop at the top – then both can still be seen in the pictures and so there is a need for explanation.”

The associations mostly produce the TV image on their own. You can therefore choose which images are shown by the “Refcam” and use them with a time default for a disputed scene and accordingly evaluate whether they should be shown. But of course mistakes or misunderstandings can arise.

Recently there was another technical innovation: the referees use the stadium micro to explain decisions after an intervention by the video assistant.