Ipswich chairman reveals his text messages sent to referees’ chief Howard Webb DURING a game, before demanding crisis summit over VAR
Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton has revealed that he called Howard Webb and demanded clarity from the referees chief after VAR drama on the weekend.
The Tractor Boys have fallen victim to a number of controversial decision in their first season back in the Premier League, which has seen them struggle to pick up points.
Against Everton two weeks ago, a penalty was awarded when Jack Clarke was tripped before Michael Oliver overturned the decision after VAR intervention.
The following match against Brentford, they saw VAR overturn a free-kick decision and instead grant the Bees a crucial spot-kick.
And, in their recent 1-1 draw against Leicester, Ipswich were denied a seemingly obvious penalty shout after Conor Chaplin was barged over by Abdul Fatawu in the box in the 77th minute.
However, officials waved away cries for a penalty. Later in the match, Ipswich’s Kalvin Phillips was sent off after a second bookable offence, much to the dismay of the home supporters.
.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
Similarly to Ipswich fans, club chairman Ashton was left incensed by the decision and revealed that he called up referees chief Webb to discuss the matter.
Speaking on BBC Radio Suffolk’s The Blue Hour, he said: ‘I get frustrated and I get angry at things when they don’t go our way, but I thought Saturday was a real injustice.
‘And those who know me know I care passionately about this football club and I will give my last breath defending this football club. And I made that very, very clear to Howard Webb.
‘I live in a world where if I say too much I’ll be put on a charge, so what I’m going to say to you know is putting me on that line.
‘But I’ve tried to be honest and open with this fanbase since the day I joined, so I’ll give the train of events as they unfolded on Saturday.
‘I actually messaged Howard when we were 1-0 up because I had a sense of the way this was going to go. I’ve been in this game a long time and I could feel it.
‘I messaged him simply and said, ‘Look, can we speak directly after the game?’. We spoke directly after the game and some of that conversation needs to remain private because I’ll end up being on a charge, I’ll end up being on a stadium ban, I’ll end up being fined, none of which worries.
‘I’ve seen on international broadcasters today, former referees giving their opinion that it’s not a penalty. You cannot be serious. Come on, don’t just back your former colleagues. It’s a stonewall penalty’.
After falling victim to contentious VAR decisions on three occasions this season already, Ashton insists his view on the use of the technology has changed.
