The referees' sound system, introduced this season in Ligue 1 to bring officials closer to the public, was put to the test during the Lens – ParisFC match. According to ActuLigue1, the device only broadcasts the final decision of the central referee, without the exchanges carried out with the VAR, which leaves spectators and viewers without understanding the reasoning behind each verdict.
The RCLens thus illustrated the limits of this innovation. MathieuVernice, the central referee, made a brief announcement, but no detailed explanation was provided on the video analysis that led to the decision. The microphone, supposed to clarify the arbitration actions, therefore does not transmit the discussions with the video assistants, letting the public hear the verdict without knowing the elements which motivated it.
This situation raises the question of the real usefulness of the system as it currently stands. Although it allows those present in the stadium to immediately know the decision, it does not answer the questions that often accompany contentious actions, particularly when there are several criteria at stake. The lack of explanatory content gives the impression of dramatizing the decision rather than making it more understandable.
The main criticism is therefore the lack of transparency. Without access to exchanges with the VAR, the referee finds himself alone at the center of attention to announce a verdict that has already been decided, which can accentuate negative reactions in a context where refereeing decisions are already widely commented on.
To become a real educational tool, the system should offer the public elements allowing them to understand the intervention of the VAR. As it stands, the sound system only clarifies the result of the procedure, not the procedure itself. MathieuVernice's performance during the Lens – ParisFC match highlighted this limitation and reminded us that the sound system, although innovative, must be accompanied by a detailed explanation to achieve its objective of transparency.
Football authorities will therefore need to reassess the current public address system format to ensure better public understanding and build confidence in refereeing decisions.