The French Football Federation (FFF) has announced that amateur referees will soon be equipped with body-worn cameras during high-risk fixtures, as part of a wider push to combat the growing number of violent incidents at grassroots level.

The measure was unveiled by FFF president Philippe Diallo during the federation’s general assembly at Clairefontaine on Saturday, according to L’Équipe. Describing the cameras as primarily “a deterrent”, Diallo pointed to successful trials carried out in the Loire, Grand Vaucluse and Moselle districts. In the Loire, where the system has been tested across 140 matches since 2017, footage was only required twice for disciplinary hearings — evidence, according to the FFF, of its calming effect.

The bodycam plan forms part of a broader package aimed at protecting officials and restoring respect in the amateur game. Among the other proposals: temporary exclusions for incivility (via a “white card”), only allowing captains to speak to the referee, and match pauses to defuse tension.