Ligue 1 referee microphones make a muted debut

Ligue 1’s new referee-microphone system made a limited first impression during the opening weekend, with spectators struggling to hear the explanations at Marseille and long waits affecting the flow of play elsewhere. The experiment has increased access to refereeing decisions, but its first use also showed that the league’s promised greater communication remains restricted.

Ruddy Buquet was the first official to use the system, during Marseille’s 4-0 victory over Strasbourg. He spoke twice after video reviews: once to explain a red card and once to announce a penalty for Marseille. At the Vélodrome, however, the stadium atmosphere prevented many spectators from making out what he said. The system was more audible in some other grounds.

At Le Havre, Jérémie Pignard took about two minutes and 30 seconds to announce a straightforward offside decision after play had stopped. That delay drew criticism from Lens defender Mathieu Udol, who said the technology was useful for public understanding but that the process had interrupted the match for too long. The installation has cost €700,000 and was delayed because of its price and the financial difficulties facing French professional football.

The system had been tested several times last season and was also seen by a wider audience at the 2026 World Cup. It now offers brief decisions and explanations inside Ligue 1 stadiums, but does not yet extend to referees speaking to the media after matches.