Referees to experiment with talk-back mikes

Referees, linesmen and the fourth official will experiment with a communication system involving open microphones and earphones in four UEFA Cup matches next week.

UEFA has authorised the test using a system which allows the linesmen and the fourth official to talk to the referee, and vice-versa, as well as to hear what is being said on the pitch.

The matches involved are the first knockout round, first legs on Wednesday between Basel and Monaco, Lille and Shakhtar Donetsk and Schalke 04 vs Espanyol and FC Thun against Hamburg on Thursday.

UEFA decided to conduct the experiment following a proposal from their Referees Committee, which also stressed the importance of the tests being carried out at the highest level, in order to test the system in real "big" match atmosphere.

The system, aimed at allowing quicker exchange of information, could be of help in several situations such as substitutions, additional time, the identity of a cautioned player and fouls occurred out of the sight of the referee.