Watch: N. Ireland lament lack of VAR in women’s football after disallowed goal against Malta

The Northern Ireland women’s team believe that VAR would have led them to a winning start in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifications.

Their laments come after some of the match official’s decision in last Friday’s Belfast game against Malta were deemed controversial as they had to settle for a goalless stalemate in their qualifiers opener.

Northern Ireland’s biggest protest came just before half-time when Aston Villa player Simone Magill put her nation ahead with an effort from inside the small area.

However, her goal was disallowed for an apparent handball which triggered Northern Ireland’s frustrations.

Magill claimed that the reason she had to get back up in the first place was because she had been fouled and was then tripped again early in the second half when three Maltese players challenged her inside the box.

“I definitely felt some contact, which is why I went to the ground, but I managed to get back up and put it into the net,” said Magill to the Northern Ireland’s press.

“I had no idea why it was blown up. She said handball. I don’t recall it hitting my hand and if that goal stands it’s a different game.”

Tasked with officiating this European qualifier was Italian referee Maria Marotta, who has plenty of experience in international football and has also officiated in men’s football.

In 2018, Marotta became the first female referee to be assigned Serie C matches before taking charge of Reggina vs Frosinone in 2021, becoming the first women to officiate in the Italian Serie B.

Last December, she was in charge of the prestigious UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage tie between Paris Saint-German vs Real Madrid.

“You could go down that angle, yes,” said Magill when asked about VAR not being in use in the women’s game.

“There are pros and cons to it, but obviously on a night like that if there is something like that then we come away with three points. Then that begs the question that there is probably a place for it.”

Northern Ireland’s Sunday Life Sport contacted UEFA for comment on why there hasn’t so far been a roll out of VAR in the women’s qualifiers.