BODYCAMS for referees will be trialled for the first time in the world, the FA has announced.
The hope behind the trial is to encourage better behaviour towards officials, according to FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.
The trial will take place in four grassroots leagues in England.
It will start this weekend in Middlesbrough and will then be tried in Liverpool, Worcester and Essex.
A hundred officials will have the equipment in the adult grassroots leagues and the footage will be available for usage in disciplinary hearings if needed.
If the trial goes well then it will be added to more grassroots leagues in the 2023/24 season.
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Bullingham said: “Referees are the lifeblood of our game and we thank Ifab for its support in allowing us to undertake this new grassroots bodycam trial, the first of its nature globally.
“We have listened to feedback from the referee community, and we hope this trial will have a positive impact on the behaviour towards them.
“So that ultimately they can enjoy officiating in a safe and inclusive environment.”
Hundreds of officials have told a BBC questionnaire that they have “feared for their safety”.
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And 293 out of 900 referees have said that they have been physically abused by players, coaches, managers or spectators.
A BBC report also suggested that some spoke about being “being punched, headbutted and spat at”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
