Ontario soccer referees will be equipped with body cameras this summer to address aggressive behaviour.
Concern has been expressed over incidents such as the assault last year of a 16-year-old female official in a parking lot by angry parents. In another incident, a player in an adult recreation game, who was expelled from the match, took a machete from their car trunk and chased the referee around the field.
To combat these issues, the Ontario Soccer Association has begun a pilot project that will provide body cameras to some referees. The cameras are designed to capture any form of abuse, whether physical or verbal, that officials may encounter while performing their duties.
Logistics in terms of where the pilot project will take place are still being worked out, but it is expected to launch on July 1 and continue through the indoor season, with a comprehensive report to be released next year.
The decision to introduce body cameras follows a similar initiative in the United Kingdom aimed at addressing the same issue, garnering support from local soccer associations in Ontario.
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