- The referee will wear a head-mounted camera as Crystal Palace face Man United
- Monday’s clash marks first time RefCam has been used in the Premier League
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Referee Jarred Gillett is set to wear a camera during tonight’s clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester United in a first for the Premier League.
Unlike previous chest-mounted RefCam designs, at Selhurst Park Gillett will don 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, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited and the Premier League.
The footage will not be broadcast live as it is set to feature in a short programme intended to offer ‘further insight and education into the demands of officiating in the Premier League’ which will air at a later date.
While the tonight’s clash will mark the first utilisation in a Premier League clash, the concept of officials wearing mounted cameras during games to offer fans a unique perspective is not a new one.
RefCam will be utilised as Crystal Palace play host to Man United in a Premier League first
Referee Jarred Gillett will wear a head-mounted camera at Selhurst Park with the footage set to be included in a programme aired later this year
Similar technology was utilised in a pre-season clash between Arsenal and the MLS All Stars
The Bundesliga trialled a head-mounted RefCam in a clash 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 ran out 4-3 winners in Philadelphia.
A chest-mounted camera was also used in the clash between Arsenal and the MLS All-Stars in pre-season, with clips uploaded online from the referee’s perspective.
A head-mounted RefCam has also been introduced in the German top flight this season, with match official Daniel Schlager wearing a camera during the 2-2 draw between Frankfurt and Wolfsburg in February.
The Bundesliga later shared clips from the game from Schlager’s perspective in a compilation on YouTube, featuring conversations with players, deliberations with his fellow officials and his close-up view of the action.
