The modernization of football continues in France. In the future, referees in Ligue 1 will wear microphones, so that their conversations during matches can be recorded. The honor of being the first to bring additional equipment will go to Benoit Millot, the head referee of the match between Olympique Lyon and Nantes, who will open the 28th round of the French championship this Friday evening.The idea of the organizers is to broadcast the conversations between the referees directly, at least during contested situations, while VAR is being watched. However, it cannot be introduced overnight, the FA of France has submitted a request, but now the IFAB, i.e. the body responsible for implementing the law, has to approve it.Well, let him suffer now…While waiting for the green light, the French FA will try out the new technology, and Millot’s conversations with the assistants will not go live for the time being. Instead, highlights will be played on the show after the game in Lyon, just so all viewers can see what’s in store for them in the future.Amazon, which broadcasts Ligue 1 matches, insisted on this innovation the most. We have already had the opportunity to see the practice of recording referees in other sports, such as basketball, where we can hear what the referees agree on while watching a video of a disputed situation. It will soon be the same in the French championship.##EDITORS_CHOICE##As for the game itself, it comes at an ideal time for Olympique Lyon. Captain Alexandre Lacazette returned to the team, and in the last round against Lille (3-3) he continued where he left off before taking a break of three games. He scored two goals in 18 minutes and is most deserving for the point, which is very valuable in the fight for Europe. Lyon are 10th in the table, seven points behind fifth-placed Rennes, who are in the leading position for the Conference League. Lacazette now has 16 goals in the championship, three less than the two top scorers Kylian Mbappe (PSG) and Jonathan David (Lille).Lacazette is the problem and the solution for LyonWe saw Nantes in the Europa League this season, in the round of 16 of that competition in February, they were eliminated by Juventus. Since then, the Canaries have not recorded a single victory in the domestic championship (two defeats and a 2-2 draw with Nice), but they defeated Lens 2-1 in the French Cup and thus qualified for the quarterfinals.The first duel between Lyon and Nantes this season, on January 11, ended goalless. It was their first draw since 2018, i.e. after eight games (six wins for Lyon and two for Nantes).LIGUE 1 – ROUND 28Friday23:00: (1.70) Olympique Lyon (3.80) Nantes (5.70)Saturday19:00: (3.40) Toulouse (3.60) Lille (2.20)23:00: (1.28) Lens (5.70) Angers (10.5)Sunday15:00: (5.10) Ajaccio (3.50) Monaco (1.75)17:00: (3.00) Troyes (3.30) Brest (2.55)17:00: (1.70) Nice (3.80) Lorient (5.70)17:00: (1.90) Montpellier (3.50) Clermont (4.70)17:00: (2.05) Strasbourg (3.30) Auxerre (3.80)19:05: (1.50) PSG (4.30) Rennes (6.50)22:45: (3.10) Reims (3.40) Olympique Marseille (2.45)***odds are subject to change***
