Press Release from the Northern Ireland Football League:

The Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) has confirmed that the upcoming BetMcLean Cup Final between Linfield and Glentoran will mark the first implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology within the professional game in Northern Ireland.

This milestone 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.

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.

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.”

Irish FA Head of Refereeing Andrew Davey added: “The use of VAR in the Bet McLean 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.

“We have invested in training some of our local referees in VAR, making them eligible to officiate UEFA matches where VAR is in operation. This provides another opportunity for our officials to gain experience in competitive matches with VAR, as they have already done in Europe this season.

“It will provide the refereeing team with another valuable experience of managing a competitive fixture with VAR in operation.”

The BetMcLean Cup Final provides an ideal controlled environment to evaluate operational procedures, communication protocols, and overall integration of VAR into the domestic matchday framework.

The experience gained will inform any future decisions regarding broader implementation across NIFL competitions.

NIFL remains committed to strengthening governance standards, supporting match officials, and ensuring the integrity of its competitions while preserving the core values and traditions of the local game.