Live Referrals

The purpose of a Live Referral - while the ball is still in play - is to aid the Referee without going to a Formal Review. Examples of Live Referral incidents may include penalty marks, double knock-forwards, confirmation of a high tackle or neck roll, changes in decisions. Live Referral communication is done on a private channel and should not be broadcast on television.  

Broadcasters will support the TMO decision by showing the incident during their own replays.

Live Referrals require effective use of the delay screen following direction from the TMO.  

The TMO focuses on communicating the Live Referral to the Referee and it is the TMO Operator’s responsibility to communicate this to Broadcast. The operator must be very clear about what this incident is before they alert the Broadcast Director. 

The communication used should be “TMO Operator, Live Referral looking at __description of incident and player__ at __timecode__” 

If possible, the TMO Operator should leave the incident in their Technical TMO Output feed to help the EVS Operators receive the angle that the TMO used. 

Communication during Live Referrals is more nuanced than Formal Reviews due to their quick nature. The TMO Operator needs to keep the TMO informed and follow directions efficiently without distracting them while communicating clearly to Broadcast. 

To enable the TMO to conduct Live Referrals, stay aware of what is happening within the game and listen to the MO communications. Live Referrals can only be credible if they are done in a timely manner.