Local referees could have bodycams by next season

Monday 17 April 2023

Jersey's football referees could be allowed to wear body-worn cameras next season in a bid to combat anti-social and abusive behaviour on the pitch.

The Football Association confirmed last week that a trial of bodycam technology — a first in world football — would be conducted across four regional adult leagues in the UK this season.

The FA is to examine the evidence collected by the trial and, if judged a success, will roll out the technology across further grassroots leagues next season.

Harry Walker, Referee Development Coordinator at the Jersey Football Association, explained that although the Jersey FA was not selected as part of the trial he hopes that the island's referees would be included if the scheme is rolled out further.

"Once the trial is complete, I hope that the FA will introduce body cameras and allow referees to wear them for the games they officiate in," he said.

Pictured: David Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of the Jersey Football Association.

However David Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of the Jersey Football Association, admitted that he thought opinions on the use of bodycams amongst referees would be mixed.

"We will await to see what the feedback from the pilot project looks like before making any decisions on the use of bodycams," he said. "I would imagine there will be some officials who would be in favour of this approach whilst others who wouldn't."

Mr Kennedy added: "Luckily in Jersey there are very few serious misconduct cases compared to the UK which has prompted the need for bodycams over there. 

"Despite that, we are not complacent and have invested significantly in a number of measures in recent seasons to create the best possible environment."

Although reports of abuse directed towards local referees may be less common than in the UK, it is not unheard of.

Last year, the JFA opened a disciplinary investigation following reports of alleged verbal abuse towards a young referee by a football coach.

The incident – described by one onlooker as "disgusting" – took place at an under-11 football match between St. Clement and St. Lawrence.

It was understood that St. Clement’s head coach took offence to decisions made by the schoolboy referee, who was believed to be 15 or 16 years old, and then verbally abused the official by swearing and making personal remarks towards him. 

It was also alleged that when a member of the St. Lawrence staff intervened to calm the man down, the St. Clement coach had to be held back from confronting his opposite number.

In 2019, local football referees planned to strike for a weekend - although this was later cancelled - to make a stand against the continual abuse they were receiving. Islander and former England footballer Graeme Le Saux spoke out in support of the referees, branding the abuse as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘inexcusable’.

Pictured: Former Muratti star, Graeme Le Saux joined Chelsea FC in 1987 from Jersey side St. Paul’s.

The strike was planned after an under-15s player was removed from the pitch for shouting homophobic comments at a match official and in another incident, an adult player was banned for 182 days after he grabbed a referee by the shirt.

Earlier in 2019, three teenage officials locked themselves in a changing room having endured prolonged verbal abuse by junior players.

At the time, a teenage former football referee told the JEP how he feared for his safety on the pitch and had even been "grabbed by the shirt" by abusive players in pubs and clubs after games.

The ex-referee — who vowed never to return to the game — said that abuse, such as homophobic slurs and physical confrontation, was a "weekly occurrence".

Local referees also almost withdrew their services in October 2018 after ten red cards were issued on one weekend, two for violent conduct in a game that was abandoned and five for verbal abuse of referees – one of those being a 16-year-old.