Referee Darren Drysdale has been charged by the FA with improper conduct after squaring up to Ipswich Town’s Alan Judge during the Blues’ match with Northampton on Tuesday.
The 49-year-old clashed with Irish midfielder Judge after his appeal for a penalty was rejected during the Blues’ League One tie with Northampton. The pair had to be broken up by two Ipswich players and Northampton’s Lloyd Jones.
Drysdale faced a grilling from refereeing governing body PGMOL on Wednesday and was later charged by the FA with improper conduct. He also issued an apology.
Referee Darren Drysdale appeared to lean into the head of Blues player Alan Judge in Tuesday’s League One tie with Northampton and the official has now apologised
Drysdale was involved in the scuffle when he refused to give Ipswich a penalty on Tuesday
Drysdale’s joint-statement with the PGMOL said: ‘I fully understand that it is important for us as referees to maintain our composure throughout the game and always engage with players in a professional manner.
‘I’m sorry that I did not do that last night (Tuesday) and I can only apologise to Alan and Ipswich Town.’
Ipswich midfielder Judge also took to Twitter on Wednesday night to outline his disagreement with the prospect of Drysdale facing disciplinary action.
‘There was no need for an apology,’ Judge tweeted. ‘I wasn’t looking for one or looking for any action to be taken. In football as everybody knows stuff happens in the heat of the moment in a game. We all make mistakes and for me that is the end of this.’
But an FA statement on Wednesday evening said: ‘Darren Drysdale has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following Tuesday night’s EFL League One game between Ipswich Town FC and Northampton Town FC.
‘It is alleged that the match official’s behaviour during the 90th minute of the game amounts to improper conduct and he has until Thursday 4 March 2021 to provide a response.’
Ipswich boss Paul Lambert confirmed that the club contacted the EFL over the incident and that the Blues demanded an investigation into the matter.
Both Judge and Drysdale had to be separated by several players as the scuffle continued
Lambert told talkSPORT on Wednesday: ‘I’ve texted Mike Jones (EFL head of referees) this morning to say, ‘Have a look at the footage of the head thing.’
‘To me, in my opinion, it looks as if the referee went in there and I said to him after the game, ‘Did you put your head in my player?’
‘He couldn’t answer it and that’s the reason I spoke to Mike. I haven’t seen that in a long, long while.’
Paul Lambert revealed he contacted the EFL to complain about Tuesday’s incident
The official booked Judge for simulation after the scuffle, while the referee also sent off Blues player Flynn Downes for a second bookable offence in stoppage time.
Drysdale is in line to take charge of Southend United’s match with Bolton Wanderers this weekend, though the official’s involvement in the game is now in doubt after these allegations.
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey told The Sun that Drysdale ‘should NEVER put himself in that position’ at Portman Road.
Drysdale (right) sent off Ipswich’s Flynn Downes (far left) in the 0-0 draw at Portman Road
Halsey said: ‘I’m sure the PGMOL will conduct an investigation into what happened and it will be interesting to see if Ipswich now make a complaint to the EFL.’
The 49-year-old became a Football League referee in 1996 and officiated in the top-flight two years later. He is also a regular assistant referee in FIFA and UEFA competitions.
He was an assistant referee to Graham Poll in the 2000 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Aston Villa – his first experience as an official in the annual Wembley event.
Drysdale is also a RAF Sergeant veteran and was stationed in Iraq, Libya and Cyprus in his military career.
Drysdale has also worked as an RAF Sergeant alongside his career in refereeing
The referee has received support from a number of players on social media, including Aston Villa’s England internationals Jack Grealish and Tyrone Mings.
Grealish wrote: ‘Ah come on?! No need to apologise at all! I think it’s brilliant.’
And his team-mate Mings believes more needs to be done to ensure referees receive respect from players.
‘Refs and officials put up with a lot from players. I’m sure he isn’t proud of it but in the world we’re living in, I think you can allow for some compassion when people don’t always act as they should,’ Mings replied to a tweet.
‘I agree that they should be impartial. But methodical? They are human and like I said, some of the stuff said to them isn’t nice. It probably highlights how professional they are and how well of a job they do that more of them haven’t reacted like that.’
In response to a tweet drawing comparisons with rugby, he added: ‘Completely agree. Would love to hear refs mic’d up for more transparency on decisions. Think it would clear up a lot of confusion and hopefully reduce frustration. Works brilliantly in rugby.’