FIFA’s referee committee chairman, Pierluigi Collina, says the new rules for the Club World Cup will enhance transparency and understanding of refereeing decisions.
The tournament will put on trial five brand-new rule changes when it kicks off later this month.
Fifa’s revamped tournament gets underway on June 15 and will see top clubs from around the globe face off for an elaborate trophy and mega prize money.
The first change announced is that referees will wear body cameras during matches, with the footage used during live match broadcasts.
Fifa will also trial an “advanced” semi-automated offside technology using sensors inside the balls, in hopes of making further improvement on the tech already used in Uefa competitions like the Champions League.
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A fourth change will be the use of AI to collect live match data, helping fans see even more stats and figures to dissect the match.
While the final innovation is that managers and coaching staff will be able to request their substitutions to the fourth official through a digital tablet, doing away with the old fashioned paper slips used at present.
Speaking with ESPN, Collina stated that the new rules will bring the game closer to the fans.
“I’m sure that, for all 117 match officials selected for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, being among those who are participating in the competition the first time ever is something very exciting, because they will be part of football history.
“These innovations demonstrate FIFA’s commitment to using technology and improving the overall football experience, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the transparency and understanding of refereeing decisions,” FIFA’s referee committee chairman, Pierluigi Collina said.
