“Will VAR be in use during Sunderland’s play-off final against Sheffield United?”- “Huge VAR update for Sunderland vs Sheffield United final. Fans Can’t believe it.
VAR in Focus: What Sunderland Fans Need to Know Ahead of the Championship Play-Off Final
Sunderland are gearing up for a massive showdown at Wembley as they face Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final, having edged past Coventry City over two tense legs.
While the Premier League regularly uses VAR (Video Assistant Referee) and the technology appears occasionally in domestic cup competitions, it has yet to be implemented in the regular seasons of the Championship, League One, or League Two.
However, that’s about to change—at least temporarily—for Sunderland.
Will VAR Be Used at Wembley?
The EFL has announced that this year’s Championship play-off final will incorporate three major technological enhancements: VAR, semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), and in-stadium VAR announcements.
This marks the first time in the competition’s history that such systems will be in place for the final.
The addition of in-stadium announcements means referees will directly explain VAR decisions to fans at Wembley, aiming to improve transparency and reduce confusion around critical calls.
Sunderland’s Past Experience with VAR
Sunderland supporters may remember that VAR was also in place during the club’s League One play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers.
While the technology was available on that day, it wasn’t called upon for any significant decisions.
That remains the only match in the club’s competitive history where VAR has been used.
Le Bris Reflects and Looks Ahead
Head coach Régis Le Bris has praised Sunderland’s efforts this season, regardless of the outcome at Wembley. However, he’s made it clear that the team’s focus is firmly set on finishing strong.
Acknowledging the strength of their upcoming opponents, Le Bris noted that Sheffield United collected 92 points in the regular season—even after starting with a two-point deduction—and emphatically dispatched Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate in their semi-final.
Following the emotional and physically demanding win over Coventry, Le Bris granted his squad a day of rest on Wednesday, with full preparations for the Wembley clash set to begin Thursday.
“Reaching the final shows what a great season this has been,” Le Bris said. “It’s important to recognise that, because win or lose, what we’ve shared this year has been special. But now our attention turns to Wembley.
It’s one more game, one more big challenge—and we’re fully focused on it. We’ll begin preparing in full toward the end of the week and have a full week to get ready. That’s our next step.”
