Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium will serve as the latest stage for an innovative broadcasting experiment. This eagerly anticipated encounter, set for Sunday, 21st September with a 4.30pm kick-off, has been selected for the trial of the ‘ref cam’ a joint initiative by the Premier League and PGMOL.
The initiative will see the referee equipped with a shirt-mounted camera, along with an earpiece and microphone. This technology is designed to grant television audiences a fresh and intimate view of the game, offering pitch-side insights previously inaccessible. As per the Daily Mail, Arsenal vs Manchester City will be among the featured matches for this novel feature.
The two sides’ last meeting at the Etihad Stadium was marred by controversy as City accused Arsenal of tactical gamesmanship to retain a 2-1 advantage despite being a man down. City levelled in the dying moments to end the game at 2-2.
While the ‘ref cam’ will capture a variety of match perspectives, it’s important to note that live footage from the camera will not be broadcasted. Instead, captured images will be used exclusively for replaying significant match incidents. The referee’s identity for this pivotal clash will be announced by the Premier League in due course.
The concept was initially trialled towards the end of last season and during the Premier League Summer Series in the USA. Referee Jarred Gillet notably donned the ‘boycam’ during Crystal Palace’s fixture against Manchester United in May. Meanwhile, Sky Sports showcased this technological advancement to great effect earlier this season during Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park, providing a fascinating view of Ryan Gravenberch’s opening goal from referee Simon Hooper’s perspective.
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