What do Irish League managers think of VAR?

In modern football conversations, not much divides supporters, players and managers in quite the way that the implementation of technology in the game does.

Now, the debate over video assistant referee [VAR] has been brought to the Irish League after the announcement that it would be employed for the first time in domestic football in Northern Ireland at the upcoming BetMcLean Cup final between Glentoran and Linfield.

It is safe to say the decision has been met with a mixed response within clubs and among officials and fans in Northern Ireland and the move is understood to have been a contributory factor in two referees stepping down from officiating at Irish Premiership games this weekend.

BBC Sport NI takes a look at what some of the Irish Premiership managers had to say after the announcement.

'Why would you do it?'

One of the leagues longest servants as both a player and manager, Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter was rather blunt in his assessment of the introduction of VAR for the forthcoming cup final.

"I wouldn't play," Baxter told BBC Sport NI when asked what he would have done if his side were in the final.

"Why would you do it? You have played all season without VAR; you either have VAR or you don't.

"I am in favour of VAR if the whole league has VAR and league games have VAR. Give the referees all the help they need as they need lots of it. To have it as a one-off game is a no-no."

Earlier on Saturday, NIFL chief executive Gerard Lawlor told BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound that "there is no financial cost to NIFL or the two competing clubs" and that they "are happy and completely back the decision to bring this in".

However, speaking after his side's thumping 5-1 win over Crusaders on Saturday, Glentoran manager Declan Devine said the east Belfast side were informed of the decision by email "five minutes before it was on social media."

"It doesn't matter, we aren't asked. We are dictated to and told what is coming in," Devine continued.

"I am not [happy], it could have been tried today, why wait to a showpiece final that means a lot to a lot of people?

"We are not invited around the table, we are just told this is happening. I just get on with it, there is no point. My opinion or anybody else's opinions, they don't count obviously.

"The bottom line for this is, people who run sport is this country will do whatever they want to do anyway so it doesn't really matter."

'I think VAR ruined the game'

While the final will be officiated by match officials from the Irish FA set-up, those in charge of VAR will be referees from outside of Northern Ireland using the Hawk-Eye system.

Larne manager Gary Haveron said that the decision to not have local referees in charge of the monitors was "the grey area".

"Straight away you have a different interpretation of games," Haveron said.

"We know how the Irish League works and local referees know how it works.

"It is going to lead to controversy when these decisions are ruled by VAR and people outside the league are making the decisions, for me that is the grey area."

VAR was introduced in the English Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season and has been used to assist big calls such as penalty awards and deciding if a goal has been scored fairly.

However, VAR decisions remain a big talking point in the Premier League and a topic which is often discussed after the matches, on Match of the Day and in the following days.

"I think VAR ruined the game," said Glenavon manager Michael O'Connor.

"Players and managers, we all make mistakes and referees make mistakes as well.

"If they were doing it in this country, they shouldn't start it in the League Cup final which is such a massive game. Listen, they are going to do it and we'll see how it goes."

'I don't think it can do any harm'

As well as being used in England, VAR has been used in the top leagues in countries such as Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and Belgium with Uefa competitions such as the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League also using the technology.

Lawlor also added that part of his job was to "stop the Irish Premiership from being left behind" with some managers supportive of the decision, if it positively impacts the league.

"Anything that develops the game and makes the game better here, I am all for it," Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins said.

"I have mixed views on VAR because I think it takes the emotion out of the game.

"My opinion of VAR is if it helps the game brilliant, but I feel for supporters and fans as they have to wait three or four minutes, and it takes the sting out of it. I haven't been a fan of VAR from day one."

However, some managers had more favourable views of the decision, such as Ballymena United's boss Oran Kearney.

"I don't think it can do any harm," said Kearney

"It brings a level of consistency whether people like it or not."

Whether we ever see an introduction of VAR across the Irish Premiership or not sometime in the future after this trial, it is clear that the debate around the subject will continue for plenty of time to come.