October 27 – Poland’s top flight, the PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa, has become one of Europe’s first leagues to introduce RefCam technology, debuting the system during the draw between Korona Kielce and Górnik Zabrze over the weekend.
Referee Szymon Marciniak, who officiated the 2022 World Cup final, wore a lightweight, chest-mounted camera that offered live footage directly from his perspective – giving fans an new-found view of the action and the referee’s decision-making process.
The project was developed by Live Park, the league’s official broadcast partner, in cooperation with Ekstraklasa, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) and its College of Referees.
PZPN secretary general Łukasz Wachowski said the initiative reflected the federation’s continued push to integrate innovation into domestic football.
“The Polish Football Association systematically supports the development of technologies used in national competitions,” he said. “RefCam is another example of our openness to innovation. We will continue to pursue solutions that both support referees and enhance the matchday experience for fans.”
Ekstraklasa president Marcin Animucki added that RefCam represented a major step in how Polish football is presented on television.
“We are bringing supporters closer to the refereeing process while improving the overall quality of the broadcast,” he said. “By introducing RefCam, Ekstraklasa joins a small group of leagues pioneering this technology, and we thank the Polish FA and all partners for helping make it possible.”
The RefCam system was first tested in June during a charity match in Tychy, with protocols designed by PZPN in line with IFAB guidelines to ensure regulatory compliance. After successful trials, Poland joins the Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga as one of the few competitions to deploy referee-mounted cameras in official matches.
Live Park Operations Director Marcin Serafin said the technology was designed with modern audiences in mind.
“Today’s viewers, especially younger ones, are used to immersive angles from gaming and digital media,” he said. “RefCam offers that same experience — it puts fans right in the centre of the action, seeing the match through the referee’s eyes.”
The rollout follows months of collaboration between Ekstraklasa and international partners through the World Leagues Forum, with additional input from Serie A and Bundesliga officials to adapt operational and safety standards to Polish conditions.
A similar system was tested last week in the Orlen Women’s Ekstraliga, when referee Magdalena Syta wore a GoPro-style RefCam during Śląsk Wrocław’s 1–0 defeat to GKS Katowice.