The French Handball League (FHL) has selected Vogo to provide the video referee system for the French men’s championship - Liqui Moly Starligue – for the next four years, starting with the 2024-25 season.
The LNH board of directors decided to introduce video refereeing with the objectives of making the game easier to understand and refereeing decisions more respected, while equally responding to the need to improve the spectator and TV viewing experience.
Handball video replay system
In 2023, the European Handball Federation (EHF) appointed Vogo to provide video replay services for all games in the Men’s and Women’s Champions League. Vogo set up a dedicated video replay solution in all 32 arenas of the clubs concerned, from Denmark to Macedonia. Most arenas were equipped with a permanent solution, while clubs that relocate part of their matches were provided with a mobile kit. Referees were equipped with a Vokkero Elite audio system with proven noise filter. On the court, a VogoSport tablet enables them to review actions from all TV camera angles and validate their refereeing decisions.
For Euro 2024, Vogo and the EHF replaced the pitch-side tablet with three touchscreens, with one operated by a Vogo replay operator; another by a video assistant referee; and a third that duplicates the images for on-field referees, to help with their decision-making. Vogo also provided a goal-line solution, with special cameras installed in the goal post.
Vogo in France
Following the Euro’s implementation, LNH, in cooperation with the National Refereeing Commission (CNA) of the French Handball Federation (FFHB), adopted the same technical system as the EHF, combining the Vokkero Elite audio communication system with VogoSport video replay. In addition to enabling referees to instantly review game situations, the system features live video and audio signals from the referees to the competition broadcaster; a video platform giving coaches more angles to work with after matches; and an application for spectators at the event to review actions from the match they are watching.
David Tebib, President of LNH, said: “The ambitious project we are rolling out goes beyond traditional video refereeing. Proximity and links with our audiences are part of our DNA. They should inspire us to adopt an approach that’s very important to us: helping players, coaches and managers to accept better refereeing decisions through verification of a phase of the game, while at the same time considering our audiences, introducing some of them to the game and providing others with more information.”
To learn more about Vogo’s video replay systems, visit booth #8.F47 during IBC2024
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