1BSPORTS 1B Sports June 14th The French Football Association announced that in order to deal with the increasing violence in grassroots competitions, amateur referees will soon be equipped with body cameras in high-risk events.
The measure was announced by Football Association Chairman Philip Diallo at a plenary meeting held in Clay Fontaine on Saturday, according to the “Team News”. Diallo called the cameras primarily a “deterrent tool” and pointed out the successful pilot of the measure in Loire, Greater Vaucluse and Moselle. Among them, the Loire has tested the system in 140 games since 2017, and only two videos were retrieved for disciplinary hearings. The French Football Association believes that this proves its deterrent effect.
This law enforcement recorder program is part of a comprehensive plan to protect referees and reshape respect for amateur competitions. Other measures include temporary departure penalties for uncivilized behavior (presenting white cards), allowing only the captain to talk to the referee, and pausing midway through the game to ease tensions.
Dialo also called for tougher punishment measures, including a lifelong ban on physical violence, and promised that the Football Association will work with regional leagues and regional associations to file legal lawsuits against all attacks on referees in the future.