FIFA has announced that referees officiating at this year’s Club World Cup will wear body cameras as part of a groundbreaking trial aimed at enhancing transparency and improving the viewing experience for fans and analysts alike.
The initiative, approved last month by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), will debut during the 32-team tournament scheduled to take place in the United States.
“This is a unique opportunity to give viewers a perspective never offered before,” said Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. “It’s a new experience not only for broadcasters, but also for coaching and debriefing purposes.”
Collina added that the footage will help evaluate referee decisions by providing insight into their line of sight and decision-making process during key moments in a match.
In addition to the use of body cameras, FIFA confirmed that new measures will be enforced to address persistent time-wasting by goalkeepers. Under the revised regulation, any goalkeeper holding the ball for more than eight seconds will concede a corner kick to the opposing team.
This represents a stricter interpretation of the existing six-second rule, which currently allows for an indirect free-kick if exceeded. However, enforcement of that rule has often been lax in top-level matches.
The new rule is aimed at reducing match delays and ensuring a more fluid style of play, aligning with FIFA’s broader efforts to modernize officiating and improve match tempo across all levels of competition.
