For the first time in Italy’s top flight, a referee will step onto the pitch wearing a body camera when Juventus host Inter Milan on Saturday.
The Italian league confirmed on Tuesday that the device, fitted to the referee’s headset, will capture live match moments such as free kicks, as well as warm-ups and replays. Some of the footage will be broadcast live, while also feeding into the video assistant referee (VAR) system.
The move comes as part of a wider push by FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to give fans a closer view of the game and bring greater transparency to officiating. Similar technology was tested in the United States during the Club World Cup in July.
Luigi De Siervo, Serie A’s chief executive, described the move as a step towards modernising the viewing experience. “Serie A has always been at the forefront of adopting new technologies, aware of the central role they play in the evolution of television viewing, in promoting our product globally, and in ensuring transparency in refereeing decisions,” he said in a statement.
Broadcasters are expected to use the footage to provide fresh perspectives on one of the league’s biggest fixtures. Supporters, meanwhile, will get an unprecedented view from the referee’s vantage point.
England’s Premier League is also preparing to trial referee body cameras in selected matches this season, according to recent reports from the BBC.
While questions remain about whether the technology will affect referees’ decision-making under pressure, the experiment marks another chapter in football’s steady embrace of innovation.
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