- 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
- It’s that time of the season! Who are the top five players of the season? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
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.
The footage will not be broadcast live, but will instead feature in a short programme promoting match officials which is set to be aired at a later date.
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 by both clubs, the International Football Association Board, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited and the Premier League.
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.
Referee Jarred Gillett will wear a head-mounted camera as Crystal Palace take on Man United
Rob Jones wore a camera during Chelsea’s victory against Brighton in a pre-season friendly
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.
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 March.
The Bundesliga later shared clips from the game from Sclager’s perspective in a compilation on YouTube, featuring conversations with players, deliberations with his fellow officials and his close-up view of the action.
