Using VAR in hurling and football matches could be a way of “righting wrongs on the field,” a former GAA president has said.

The technology has been used in the Premier League since 2021 and has made numerous controversial decisions since, resulting in a proposal from Wolves to scrap Video Assisted Refereeing (VAR) from next season.

Calls for some form of VAR introduction to the GAA gained traction last year after O'Loughlin Gaels were denied a goal that should have been in the All-Ireland club hurling final.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, former GAA president Liam O’Neill said he’s “always been in favour” of using technology to assist referees.

“We would have good reason in Laois to consider all possibilities of righting a wrong on the field,” he said.

“You will remember in 1981 we lost a Leinster Championship semifinal to Offaly, who went on to win the All-Ireland, because of a goal that went through the side netting.

“The two areas we could look at are goal-line technology and red cards – possibly, that’s enough.”

Premier League VAR learnings

Mr O’Neill noted the GAA could learn from how the Premier League has used VAR.

“VAR has caused a lot of bother in the Premier League, so much so that they’re considering getting rid of it,” he said.

“I think we would need to learn from the mistakes they’ve made, experiment with this, and see where it will go – I wouldn’t like to jump in straight away.

“Goal-line technology in hurling is not as easy in hurling as it is in soccer, the ball is a lot smaller and it’s much more difficult.”

A premier league referee consulting the VAR screen during a match between Liverpool and Tottenham in 2023. Image: Mark Pain / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr O’Neill added that there would be logistical issues with bringing video assistance technology to regional stadiums in Ireland.

Former All-Ireland referee Brian Gavin said VAR is “something we need to consider” in the GAA.

“We need to get all stakeholders in a room pretty shortly to discuss it and I would be of the opinion that we don’t go down the soccer route and help out referees for all decisions,” he said.

“My main topics would be around the red card incidents and goal-line technology.

“We’ve seen in the last number of years, this year even with O’Loughlin Gaels in the club final that wasn’t given, Friday night in the U21 championship there was a goal not given – so how can we help the referee and officials?”

Trial proposal

Mr Gavin proposed trialing a simplified version of VAR.

“As a pilot scheme, we could have somebody wired up to the referee who has the live video that is going out to the screens of people at home,” he said.

“They could contact the referee after looking at it on the screen and say, “The flag has to go up – that’s a goal”.

“People at home looking at it know quicker now whether that ball crossed the line or not.”

You can listen back here:

Main image: VAR referee Bas Nijhuis working at the VAR center in the headquarters of the Dutch football association. Image: Robert Hoetink / Alamy Stock Photo