FIFA announces referees for Club World Cup as new rules and tech enter the game

FIFA has announced the full list of referees who will officiate at this summer's inaugural Club World Cup, which will take place across 11 U.S. cities from June 14 to July 13. Among the 35 head referees selected, Slovenia’s Slavko Vinčič stands out, joined by assistants Andraž Kovačič and Tomaž Klančnik.

This prestigious appointment puts Vinčić among elite officials from 41 national football associations. Slovenia will also be represented on the pitch by Jan Oblak with Atletico Madrid and Nejc Gradišar of Al Ahly.

Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, stressed the honour of being chosen: "At the start of each new competition, the referees are selected from among those who have the privilege of being part of it for the first time. We are building on the extremely high standards achieved in previous FIFA tournaments."

Collina added that this summer’s tournament will not only celebrate world-class football but also test groundbreaking innovations in officiating.

New time-wasting rule & live referee perspectives

One of the most talked-about innovations is the introduction of a strict time-wasting rule for goalkeepers. If a keeper holds the ball longer than eight seconds, possession will be awarded to the opposing team. A visible countdown will be displayed on the scoreboard in five-second intervals to ensure transparency.

Another significant change will be the use of body cameras worn by referees, offering fans never-before-seen in-game angles from the officials' point of view. Collina explained:

"We think this is a good opportunity to offer spectators a new experience… It also plays a role in training, as seeing what the referee sees is crucial in evaluating decision-making."

This dual-purpose innovation aims to enhance both viewer experience and professional referee development.

The full list of referees for the tournament is available here.