VAR for GAA backed by former All Ireland referee and ex GAA president

A former All-Ireland referee and GAA president have backed the introduction of VAR for the GAA in a limited capacity. 

Speaking on the Newstalk Breakfast Show, referee Brian Gavin said: "It's something we probably need to consider. I think we need to get all stakeholders into a room, pretty shortly. I would be of the opinion that we don't go down the soccer route and help out the referees for all decisions.

"My main topic would be over a red card incident and goal technology," he said. 

"We've even seen this year that O'Loughlin Gaels had a goal which wasn't given. On Friday night in the U20 Munster Championship we had a goal that wasn't given (a Cork shot appeared to be caught from under the crossbar, and over the line, by the Tipperary goalkeeper). So how can we help the referee and help the officials?" he said. 

"I think where we have games covered by TV cameras, I'm sure we can have someone mic'd up to the referee, going forward," he said. 

The Offaly referee said the VAR system would allow officials to say to the referee, "hold on a minute, that ball has or hasn't gone over the line".

Former GAA President Liam O'Neill added: "I have always been in favour of assisting referees and the use of technology".

The Laois native noted that his own county lost a Leinster semi-final to eventual winners of the All-Ireland title, Offaly after a Laois goal was scored through the side-netting and not given.  

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

Mr O'Neill said he was glad to hear Brian talk about two areas on the pitch, goal-line technology and red cards. "Possibly, that's enough," he said. 

He said VAR had caused a "lot of bother" in the Premier League, "so much so, that they are considering getting rid of it". 

"I think we would need to learn from the mistakes they have made, and experiment with this, and see where it will go," Mr O'Neill said. 

He said it could be difficult using goal-line technology in hurling, as sliothars are small. 

"We seem to be moving away from Croke Park in recent years and I'm not quite sure if we could provide the technology at provincial grounds," he said. 

While Brian Gavin accepted some of these reservations, he felt the technology could be used wherever a game is being covered by RTÉ, TG4 or GAAGO. 

He said they could have a pilot scheme with a person wired up to the referee who also has the live video as it is going out on screens. 

"I am saying someone sitting, watching it live, can say that green flag has to go up, that's a goal," Brian said. 

Liam O'Neill told the Newstalk Show that he would listen to people like Brian Gavin, and would be open to the introduction of new technology, "but would do so with caution".