Headcams at Tottenham vs. Chelsea: Can Big Brother Clean Up Football?

Last night's Premier League match between Tottenham and Chelsea at White Hart Lane was policed by stewards wearing headcams—the front line in a zero tolerance stance against "foul, abusive, homophobic or racist language" in the stadium.

The idea was not only to expedite ejections from the stadium, but also to help achieve banning orders and maybe even criminal prosecutions, if necessary down the line. It was clearly a more targeted approach than the wide-angled CCTV footage that gets hooligans foaming at the mouth on YouTube.

In the current climate it was wholly necessary. Chelsea's John Terry arrived at The Lane facing charges of racist abuse, and with an element of Spurs fans ready to rip him to pieces (they did a pretty good job of it). Terry's loyal Chelsea following took their their seats with reputations sullied by the group of traveling supporters who sang anti-Anton Ferdinand chants in Belgium last month.

Spurs fans took their little ditty and turned it on its head last night. "John Terry, you know what you are," they sang. Chelsea fans responded with a chorus of, "There's only one England captain"—a chant that may have limited shelf life. They also threw out a reference to the London riots. "You f***king *******, you burned down your own town."

It's unclear whether any arrests were made, or whether indeed any of the songs last night crossed the line in the ears of the authorities. If they did, the perpetrators will have been filmed. Hooliganism was met by perimeter fencing and alcohol bans. The battle against abusive chanting will be fought by Big Brother.

Sparked by the police charges facing Terry, and the FA ban and fine handed to Liverpool's Luis Suarez, it seems English football grounds may be entering a new age of transparency. Don't be surprised if in a year's time headcams on stewards are as common a sight in the Premier League as Geordies with their shirts off, and Fernando Torres with a tracksuit on.

Is it crazy to suggest the officials should wear them, too? The old argument that "what goes on on the pitch, should stay on the pitch," simply doesn't fly in the modern game. We see more, hear more and know more than ever before. Why not provide referees with a resource to help us judge all Suarez/Terry type cases to follow?

But if that happens, how long before every square foot of the field is embedded with a microphone, too? And how long before players are offered large sums of money to play with a mic attached to their waxed chests? Ultimate transparency would be ours, but would the game we love be diluted of some of its mystery and romance in the process? Is it always best to know all?

It starts with headcams on stewards. Where it ends nobody knows, but when it comes to Big Brother, how close is too close? Over to you to decide.