The Northern Ireland Football League has confirmed that the upcoming BetMcLean Cup final between Linfield and Glentoran will see Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology used for the first time in Northern Ireland domestic football.
The decider between Belfast rivals Linfield and Glentoran will be played at Windsor Park on Sunday, 15 March at 15:00 GMT.
“This milestone represents a significant step forward for domestic football, aligning the league more closely with European competition standards,” read a statement released by NIFL on Friday.
“While VAR will not replace the authority or judgment of the on-field referee, it will serve as a technological support mechanism aimed at enhancing decision-making accuracy, fairness, and transparency in key match incidents.
“The fixture will be officiated by Irish FA match officials on the field of play. However, VAR operations for this match will be managed by experienced referees from outside Northern Ireland using the Hawk-Eye system, as used in Fifa and Uefa competitions, ensuring technical proficiency during this introductory phase.”
The statement explained that the cup final would “provide an ideal controlled environment to evaluate operational procedures, communication protocols, and overall integration of VAR into the domestic matchday framework”.
The experience gained is set to inform any future decisions the governing body will make regarding potential broader implementation of VAR across NIFL competitions.
NIFL chief executive Gerard Lawlor acknowledged that the decision would not attract support from all quarters but highlighted the benefits of using the technology.
“The introduction of VAR for this game represents an important step forward for our league, strengthening decision-making and supporting our match officials,” he said.
“We recognise, however, that this will not be a universally popular decision and that the implementation of any new technology brings scrutiny and adjustment.
“This game represents a valuable opportunity for us to assess and become familiar with the technology in a controlled environment, while providing practical benefits to both the Referee Team and our clubs, particularly those participating in European competitions where its use may be required.”
Irish FA Head of Refereeing Andrew Davey added: “The use of VAR in the BetMcLean Cup Final is an exciting step forward for both the league and refereeing in Northern Ireland.
“The introduction of this technology for such a significant fixture underlines our ongoing efforts to support referees with the highest standards of officiating tools available.”
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