- Referee to wear head-mounted camera when Crystal Palace take on Man United
- Monday’s clash marks the first time RefCam has been used in the Premier League
- It’s that time of the season! Who are the five best players of the season? Listen to the It’s all starting! podcast
Referee Jarred Gillett will use a camera during tonight’s clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester United for the first time in the Premier League.
Unlike previous chest-mounted RefCam designs, at Selhurst Park Gillett will wear a head-mounted device that is connected to the referee’s usual communications system.
The scheme has been approved for educational purposes by both clubs, the International Football Association Board, Professional Game Match Officials Limited and the Premier League.
The footage will not be broadcast live as it will appear in a short program aimed at offering “further information and education on arbitration claims in the Premier League” which will be broadcast at a later date.
While tonight’s clash will mark the first use in a Premier League clash, the concept of referees using mounted cameras during games to give fans a unique perspective is not new.
RefCam to be used as Crystal Palace host Man United for the first time in the Premier League
Referee Jarred Gillett will wear a head-mounted camera at Selhurst Park and the footage will be included in a program to be broadcast later this year.
Similar technology was used in a pre-season clash between Arsenal and the MLS All Stars.
The Bundesliga tested a head-mounted RefCam in the match between Wolfsburg and Frankfurt
During a pre-season friendly between Chelsea and Brighton in July, referee Rob Jones wore a camera mounted on his chest as the Blues won 4-3 in Philadelphia.
A chest-mounted camera was also used in the clash between Arsenal and the MLS Stars in pre-season, with clips uploaded to the internet from the referee’s perspective.
A head-mounted RefCam camera has also been introduced in the German top flight this season, with match official Daniel Schlager using a camera during the 2-2 draw between Frankfurt and Wolfsburg in February.
The Bundesliga later shared clips of the match from Schlager’s perspective in a compilation on YouTube, including conversations with players, deliberations with his fellow officials and his close-up view of the action.
