RefCam used in a Bundesliga match for the first time

27 February 2024 – On matchday 23 of the current season, a RefCam was used in a Bundesliga match for the first time. The small special camera was attached to the referee’s headset during the match between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg and filmed the match from his perspective. A sound link was also used to reproduce the referee’s perspective authentically and up close. The occasion was a production for the DFL’s International Product Portfolio, which follows the referee team.

The images were not included in the live broadcast or the match summaries. The recorded material will be used for an approximately half-hour report entitled “Referees Mic’d up – Bundesliga”, which will be produced by the DFL and made available to its national and international media partners for release from 12 March.

Approval to use the RefCam was granted by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and in close coordination between DFB Schiri GmbH, the DFL and the participating clubs. FIFA referee Daniel Schlager had already tested the RefCam on 17 December 2023 during the 3. Liga match between Arminia Bielefeld and TSV 1860 München.