Body cams could be set for a debut on Premier League referees as new measures are considered to capture conflicts and provide an additional safeguard for officials.
This development follows the suspension of Liverpool manager Arne Slot after allegations emerged that he threatened referee Michael Oliver, allegedly stating "if we don't win the league, I'll f****** blame you" in the aftermath of a heated Merseyside derby. The initiative, which has seen trial runs in grassroots football as a means to bolster ref defense, might also act as a deterrent at the elite stages of the sport by exposing inappropriate behaviors towards refs.
According to the Daily Mirror, FA boss Mark Bullingham is strongly backing this innovation, having discussed its potential implementation with FIFA. Bullingham remarked: "What we're speaking with FIFA about is whether we can get more countries to adopt a trial and potentially even get FIFA behind it."
He went on to elaborate: "There are lots of creative solutions being looked at. I think we see that as a good way of referees being more confident. I personally think it is good and it is something which should be trialed and potentially allowed."
Slot will serve the second game of his touchline ban this weekend against Southampton. He has since expressed his regret at how he acted towards referee Oliver before his red card.
"The moment it happened, I was quite emotional for everything that happened in the last seven or eight minutes and maybe the whole game," he said last week. "I chose to go on pitch instead of staying calm, staying inside and then talking to Michael. Now I don't have the same emotions anymore so I think I should set a better example than I set back then and not go into the situation again.
Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park. Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park. Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
"It's clear what I've written and what Michael has written [in the report]. Michael has been in the news quite a lot recently and I don't think it helps if I add something to that now I have my emotions under control."
Meanwhile, as English football contemplates these tech-enhanced measures, French football has already demonstrated its firm stance on discipline. Lyon's head coach Paulo Fonseca has received a hefty nine-month ban from Ligue 1 assignments after a shocking altercation with referee Benoit Millot.
The official recounted: "He rushed toward me with an intimidating attitude and I decided to send him off directly. There was, it seems, a slight contact with the nose. [It was] a particularly intimidating, aggressive attitude, which one can hardly imagine from a professional coach."
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However, Fonseca expressed regret for his behavior shortly after the incident, stating: "I just want to say that I'm sorry for what I did. I should not do it. Maybe we do things that are not right. I'm sorry."
Yet, Lyon has voiced its disagreement regarding the punishment. The club issued a statement on Wednesday saying: "The club deplores the fact that its coach was not judged solely on his actions, an emotional reaction, with no obvious intention of physically attacking the referee."
Considering the penalty as influenced by a negative atmosphere surrounding French refereeing, Lyon announced: "In light of a sanction that seems to be dictated by a harmful context affecting French refereeing, Lyon is announcing that it is studying all possible avenues of appeal. More than ever, the club is united and focused on its sporting objectives."
Liverpool.com says: Something does need to be done about refereeing in England but the case in France was very different to what happened with Slot at Everton. Bodycams won't do any harm so it might not be a bad idea.