This summer, the first Club World Cup will be played in the USA from June 15 to July 13. This competition, in which Paris Saint-Germain will be taking part, will be an opportunity for FIFA to launch a number of innovations in top-level soccer (tested on other occasions before). Journalist Ben Jacobs made the list:
“The Club World Cup will see a range of new innovations this summer.
1- Referees will wear body cameras with the footage used on live match broadcasts.
2- Footage from referee monitor reviews will be aired live in stadiums.
3- Advanced semi-automated offside technology will be in use. Balls will have a sensor inside.
4- AI will be used to collect live match data as part of FIFA’s partnership with Hawk-Eye.
5- Substitutions will be requested on a digital tablet rather than via paper slips.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström: “FIFA has a proud history of breaking new ground at its elite tournaments, and the FIFA Club World Cup will continue that trend. With the best clubs competing for the title of world champions, it is fitting that these trailblazing innovations will be on display at such a prestigious tournament.”
As with all changes, there are bound to be skeptics and others who focus on the possible benefits. We remember the great debates sparked by the arrival of 5 changes (instead of 3), whereas this seems to be very well accepted today.
We’re waiting to see the games before making any judgements. These ideas did not come about by chance, and their introduction in this Club World Cup is a strong choice on the part of FIFA. It remains to be seen whether the encounters and the feedback will bear out this confidence. Of course, we’re hoping for matches that remain fluid, avoiding controversy and, why not, succeeding in being “closer” to those involved in the match.
