The referees' sound system, a habit in rugby, a long battle in football.
A fight that could finally bear fruit.
According to
L'Equipe
, FIFA has authorized France to experiment with wearing a microphone for its referees.
Antony Gautier, technical director of refereeing, would have announced it during the last executive committee of the French Football Federation (FFF) on January 15.
A victory for the boss of the men and women with the whistle, who was very supportive of it to Le
Figaro
a few weeks ago: “It
's a very clear way of humanizing refereeing
.
I want to show that
,
behind each referee, there is a man, a woman, with sensitivity.
“The meaning of history”
On January 19, 2023, more than a year ago, the FFF officially contacted Ifab (International Football Association Board, the body which determines the rules of the game) to say that France was a candidate for the experiment. live and continuous sound system of the referees.
The official answer, received on April 21, was no.
“
We respected this decision, but we are deeply convinced that the sound system is the meaning of the story,”
said Antony Gautier.
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History is therefore in progress.
But walk slowly.
Initially, the sound system would only allow referees to express themselves on decisions taken after consulting the VAR, and not throughout the match as in rugby.
L'Equipe
affirms that the first tests will take place in D1 Arkema, the first division of women's football, in the spring.
To see microphones on Ligue 1 referees, we will probably have to wait until at least next year.
The clubs would be in favor of it.
The referees too, as Jérémy Stinat, who officiates in the elite, told us:
“Viewers understand much more easily the relationship we have with the players,”
he explained.
The debates were much calmer on the ground.
There was more restraint on the part of the different actors.”