The Northern Ireland Football League will introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology for the first time in domestic football when Linfield faces Glentoran in the BetMcLean Cup final on 15 March at Windsor Park. This marks a significant milestone for the league, which has previously used VAR only in international fixtures at the venue.

NIFL confirmed that experienced referees from outside Northern Ireland will operate the Hawk-Eye system, the same technology used in FIFA and UEFA competitions. The 15:00 GMT fixture will be officiated by Irish FA match officials on the field, with VAR serving as a support mechanism to enhance decision-making accuracy in key match incidents.

The one-off implementation represents a trial phase, with NIFL chief executive Gerard Lawlor acknowledging the decision may not be universally popular. The final between these Belfast rivals, their first cup meeting in 16 years with European play-off qualification at stake, provides an ideal controlled environment to evaluate operational procedures before any potential broader rollout across NIFL competitions.