Liverpool news: Ex-Premier League referee demands groundbreaking technology after Sky reveal
Referees should wear body cameras when officiating Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed it would help combat the very real problem of abuse at grassroots level.
IFAB told Sky Sports last week (20 June) that an expert panel will propose measures on ‘ref-cams’ in the coming weeks and months.
It is hoped the technology could help combat abuse of referees which has been a growing trend in recent years.
“When it comes to grassroots football, we’ve got a problem,” Hackett told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“You’ve got to think of that 16-year-old turning up in the middle of the countryside, on his own going to referee a group of senior players or even junior players while having to do with parents around the pitch. I’ve read reports of referees being assaulted by parents when officiating under-7s.
“It’s a deterrent and is something that is going to be experimented with.
“I’ve watched companies like ref support, ref next promoting the idea of ref cams.
“We look at society generally, why do police officers have cameras? They are obviously a deterrent but they are also gathering evidence.
“We can parallel it with the police force, who are not well-liked and referees are often not well-liked. They have to make tough calls.
“Someone might just think again. I can see referees using it in a sensible manner. A player having a bit of a go, a manager having a bit of a go or a fan having a bit of a go, he just points to the camera on his chest and says ‘I’ve got it’.
“This is more for grassroots where there is sadly a growing trend of abuse.
“I have no doubts that the Premier League and EFL, the senior competitions, are aware of this, the need to protect their image.
“I can remember being in a series of mass confrontations and the Premier League said ‘This has to stop’ and brought out a scheme and it had a positive effect.
“I don’t think you can be seen not to be doing anything.”
In other news, an expert has revealed a Liverpool plan is doomed to fail after a boardroom capitulation.