Ryerson Calls for FIFA to Scrap Referee Cameras
Borussia Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson says the body-worn 'refcams' used at the 2026 World Cup change how players and officials behave.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Soccer
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Norway international Julian Ryerson has called on FIFA to scrap referee cameras after they were introduced across all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup. Ryerson said the cameras make players and officials act differently because they know they are being filmed.
Why it matters
The refcams gave broadcasters and viewers a closer look at on-field decisions and conversations, but Ryerson argues the added scrutiny has made normal interaction on the pitch more difficult. The debate touches on how transparency tools may shape the behaviour of the people they are meant to observe.
Refcams were deployed across all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup, covering the full tournament. Whether FIFA will keep or drop the system after this tournament has not been announced.
The players
Julian Ryerson
Julian Ryerson is a Norway international defender who plays for Borussia Dortmund.
FIFA
FIFA is the international governing body of football that organises the World Cup and introduced the referee cameras.
The details
Ryerson, a defender for Borussia Dortmund, was shown discussing an offside decision with referee Clement Turpin during Norway's match against England. Broadcasters used the refcam footage and audio to show the match from the referee's perspective, and Ryerson said officials have become overly nice on the pitch as a result.
Timeline
2026 World Cup: referee body-worn cameras introduced across all 104 matches.
Saturday: Norway hosts Wales at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo.
Season Trajectory
The refcam experiment introduced across all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup is now being judged by the players it observes. Ryerson's criticism places the system's effect on player behaviour at the centre of any decision about its future use.
Viewers who follow Norway and Dortmund will see whether refcam footage continues to appear in broadcasts of upcoming matches. Fans watching officiating closely may notice more on-field conversation being broadcast from the referee's position.
The takeaway
Transparency tools like refcams can change the behaviour of the people they observe, a trade-off that football's governing body will need to weigh before deciding whether the system stays.
What happens next
Norway hosts Wales at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on Saturday, the next fixture for the Norway squad.
Further reading
For more on how the game's officiating and tournament rules are evolving, see the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SABC.
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