According to Radio France, referee sound system will be tested from Friday evening at the Parc [stadium]…
Axel Allag, Media365: published on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 10:41 p.m.
It is a first in Ligue 1. On Friday evening, during the match between PSG and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes (8:45 p.m.), the sound system for referees will be tested, as reported by Radio France. Spectators in the stands and television viewers will be able to hear referee Éric Wattellier verbally explain some decisions during the match which will open the 28th day of Ligue 1.
Gautier: “Communicate and make the decisions made by referees more educational”
This will be the case, for example, if he has to consult an action on the VAR screen. The audience will hear him justify his decision upon his return to the field. The director of arbitration at the French Football Federation, Antony Gautier, confirmed this first test to Radio France: “I had wished that all referees be trained on this system since March 2024, they are. I then indicated to the Professional Football League that we were awaiting their approval to launch this innovation in France and the approval has arrived. We are very happy to be able to offer this new feature that aims to communicate and make the decisions made by referees more educational.”
Following this first trial in Ligue 1 during PSG-Toulouse, the sound system for referees is expected to be generalized in the elite of the French championship next season. This system, as a reminder, was supposed to make its appearance during the current season but the Professional Football League (LFP), struggling with financial problems due to TV rights, finally gave up on its implementation. Delayed until Friday, the night of the premiere at the Parc des Princes.
