Referee Innovations at Club World Cup Earn Praise
The implementation of referee body cameras, a new eight-second rule for goalkeepers, and improved semi-automated offside technology at the Club World Cup has been recognized as a notable achievement, as stated by Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee.
This tournament marked the first instance of the expanded 32-team format and was the first FIFA event to employ body cameras for officials.
Collina noted that these innovations exceeded expectations, providing valuable insights for both television audiences and referee training initiatives.
“The outcomes of introducing the ref cam at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 surpassed our expectations,” Collina mentioned in an interview with FIFA’s media outlet on Thursday.
“We anticipated it would create an engaging experience for viewers, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.”
He highlighted that the footage was not only entertaining but also beneficial for referee development.
“We gained a better understanding of the referee’s perspective on the field,” he explained.
“This was not merely for entertainment; it also supports the training of referees and helps clarify why certain incidents may have gone unnoticed during the match.”
Collina referred to a group stage match between Atletico de Madrid and Paris Saint Germain, where a referee missed a handball due to an obstructed view.
“From the ref cam footage, it was clear that the referee could not have seen that incident in real-time on the field,” Collina remarked.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) later intervened to award a penalty.
Furthermore, the tournament introduced a rule stating that a corner kick would be granted if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds, replacing the previous indirect free kick awarded after six seconds.
“It was very effective; the pace of the match improved,” Collina noted.
“We did not encounter delays caused by goalkeepers retaining the ball for long periods, which had been a frequent issue in earlier matches,” he added, noting that only two goalkeepers were penalized under the new rule.
“The goal was not to frequently award corner kicks but to ensure adherence to the eight-second rule. This objective was fully met,” he stated.
An enhanced version of the semi-automated offside technology was also implemented, speeding up decision-making and reducing unnecessary stoppages in play.
A total of 117 match officials, including 35 referees, 58 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials from 41 member associations, officiated the 63 matches during the tournament.
Paris Saint Germain is set to face Chelsea in the final match of the tournament in New Jersey on Sunday.
