The Irish FA’s Interim Head of Refereeing has welcomed the use of VAR in this season’s NIFL League Cup Final.
The Northern Ireland Football League has confirmed that the upcoming final between Linfield and Glentoran will mark the first implementation of Video Assistant Referee technology within the professional game in Northern Ireland.
Andrew Davey, the Irish FA’s Interim Head of Refereeing, said the Irish FA has invested in training referees in VAR, making them eligible to officiate UEFA matches where VAR is in operation.
And he added: “This provides another opportunity for our officials to gain experience in competitive matches with VAR, as they have already done in Europe this season.”
The League Cup final, between Linfield and Glentoran, is due to be played on Sunday 15 March at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park (3pm kick-off).
NIFL said the deployment of VAR in the game represents a significant step forward for domestic football, aligning the league more closely with European competition standards.
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, it explained.
NIFL further said the fixture will be officiated by Irish FA match officials on the field of play, while VAR operations for the match will be managed by experienced referees from outside Northern Ireland, ensuring technical proficiency during the introductory phase.
NIFL CEO Gerard Lawlor said: “The introduction of VAR for this game represents an important step forward for our league, strengthening decision-making and supporting our match officials.
“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.”
