Around 40 elite referees and their assistants visited the FIFA Museum after completing a training course organised by their association. Among them were FIFA referees Sandro Schärer and Urs Schnyder, as well as FIFA assistant referee Susanne Küng. The focus was on the special exhibition, Innovation in Action.

After an intensive day of courses, the visit to the FIFA Museum offered the opportunity to experience football history up close. The special exhibition Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch was particularly interesting for the referees, as part of the exhibition deals with the technological developments that support referees in their daily work today. Many participants recalled times when VAR or goal-line technology (GLT) were still a thing of the future. While GLT is still not used in the Swiss Super League, VAR has been an integral part of the topflight since 2019/20.

FIFA referee Sandro Schärer was impressed by Innovation in Action: ”I really enjoyed the exhibition. My compliments to the team behind this project. We gained some exciting insights and it's great that visitors get to see things from the referee's perspective and not just from the players. This certainly helps them to better understand our demanding job on the pitch.”

Urs Schnyder also took away an important impression: ”I became aware of the huge scale of my work as a FIFA referee. It's incredible to see what it takes for a match on this big stage.”

Technology in process– and now part of everyday life

There was lively discussion during the tour: How do new technologies support the role of referees? What opportunities and challenges arise? Experienced FIFA assistant referee Susanne Küng looked back on her personal development: ”I started with a simple flag. Then came the communication system – suddenly you have something in your ear. The biggest challenge was the first matches with VAR, until the procedures were in place. Today, technology is part of everyday life for referees.” And despite the technical advances, one thing remains clear to her: assistant referees will still be needed in the future. Eight eyes see more than two – you remain a team on the pitch, and that is very important. Sandro Schärer added that, despite the technology that has been developed, humans still have to make decisions. “Technology is a great support, but it is humans who interpret and take everything into account so that they can ultimately make a good and fair decision.”

Technology as support, but also as a new responsibility

There was time at the end for discussion, technical talks, and amazed glances at exhibits that are usually only seen on television. Sandro Schärer emphasised the importance of technological support: 'On the one hand, technology has made our job easier. For example, it has helped us answer questions such as: Was the ball completely over the line? You can't see that with the naked eye. On the other hand, it has become more demanding. You can't blow the whistle too early in a game, otherwise you lose the chance to review the situation. I have to accept that I make mistakes. It's actually a relief when I can correct my initial decision based on the video images. Then I definitely go home feeling better.

Visiting the FIFA Museum not only marked the end of a long day of courses but also brought the Swiss referees closer together and made them more aware of their role in football.

The special exhibition Innovation in Action at the FIFA Museum in Zurich is open until 31 March 2026.