The spider camera (SPIDERCAM) revolutionized the world of filming football matches, and shone greatly in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with its creative overhead shots that make a difference in television transmission.

The spider camera needs special equipment for that, and it is not widespread except in world championships and major leagues only. For example, but not limited to, it was the first time that it was used in Algeria during the television broadcast of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Mediterranean Games in Oran in the middle of this year.

As a viewer of the World Cup matches in Qatar from the stadium, I noticed the agility of Spidercam's movements over the field, and I also noticed that it "is afraid of the ball and is afraid to shoot up," although it pursues it, as it does not approach the players or the field except in the case of stopping play only, and the secret lies in its fear The ball may break it and take it out of coverage of the match if it hits it, especially if it is strong.

.@filipeluis spots our spidercam.

We won't lie: we ducked… #UCL pic.twitter.com/5GcmqrS5sT

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 13, 2016

Khaled Ibrahim, director of sports programs and matches for Al-Jazeera Net, says that the spider camera was given this name because it hangs like a spider through 4 strong and flexible wires that are installed either at the top of 4 columns on the outskirts of the stadium from the outside or in the four corners of the roof of the stadium, so that these wires make the movement of the camera reach down. Up to the level of the players' feet, and up to the ceiling of the stadium, and it is required that it be fixed at the highest point so that it is far from the goal of the ball that may smash or fall on the players if it hits it.

LATEST UPDATE: Spider Cam has been installed at National Stadium, Karachi, it will be used first time in Pakistan.

It will be used for two way communication b/w commentator and player #PSL5 #HBLPSLV #Cricket #Pakistan #Karachi #PSL2020 #SpiderCam pic.twitter.com/VJMBK7zkKC

- Syed Mohib (@IsyedMohib) February 18, 2020

Ibrahim adds that it gives the director responsible for broadcasting the matches special, wonderful and unique angles, as the overhead cameras cannot film them, through the coordination of the director with the photographer in charge of controlling them, because the spider camera is fast moving and can take the most appropriate place for the events of the match from any fixed or even mobile camera. Others, as its movement is characterized by its dynamics, monitoring all dimensions of the stadium, the movements of the ball, players, and even the masses, with very high accuracy, through high-resolution lenses.

The noise from the Kop.

😍

BRILLIANT Spidercam footage of Origi's derby day winner.

🙌 pic.twitter.com/8m2OiDnLjr

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 1, 2019

Ibrahim confirms that watching the matches broadcast using these ultra-modern cameras on television may be better than even attending the stands, because they transmit the match in a full angle (360 degrees), making the viewer live the events of the match as if he was in the stadium and more through replays from different angles.

Spidercam moving along its, er, 'web' pic.twitter.com/4vFfqJCZOU

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) January 15, 2017

The Egyptian director explains that the lack of use of the spider camera in the Arab and African stadiums has several reasons, including its high cost, whether in the installations or the price of the camera itself, and its expensive equipment must be installed in many stadiums that often do not have ceilings that facilitate the installation of camera wires.

And he continues that its operation requires specialists, most of whom are foreign photographers, and finally the camera represents a danger to players if it is not installed or its metal wires are well, which requires permanent maintenance and is also expensive.

The MVP was the 🕷 spidercam swooping around post-match covered in tinsel 👻 pic.twitter.com/nA9QdQ7JI8

— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) February 24, 2019

When you realize spidercam is watching you… 😀🕷#UCL pic.twitter.com/22ke63Pr14

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 10, 2017