Bust-up referee in new row
Referee Darren Drysdale and Ipswich’s Alan Judge, who were involved in a head-to-head clash in the Sky Bet League One match against Northampton on Feb 16, were caught up in a new war of words last night over evidence given at a misconduct hearing.
Referee Darren Drysdale and Ipswich Town midfielder Alan Judge have become embroiled in a public dispute over what was said during their infamous on-field confrontation after a disciplinary commission heard that the official was called a “cheating bald c---”.
In upholding a charge of improper conduct and issuing a four-match suspension against Drysdale, the Football Association published the 50-year-old’s account of his extraordinary clash with Judge during Ipswich’s goalless draw with Northampton last month.
Drysdale said that he was on the receiving end of the worst volley of abuse in his 30-year refereeing career, alleging that Judge called him a “cheating c---” before he moved his own head forward and snarled in the Ireland international’s face.
Judge had not directly provided his version of the exchange to the regulatory commission and, having not been aware that their report would be made public, has now responded with an emphatic denial of the most abusive language.
“I didn’t want to make anything of it because it’s a tough job being a referee but I’m not going to keep quiet when I’ve been accused of calling the referee a cheat and using the C-word,” said Judge.
“I’ll admit using the F-word but I said to him ‘you have got to be f-----joking me’ and I said that a couple of times to him. I never used the C-word. I don’t use that word and I didn’t call him a cheat.
“My mum passed away last week – which is far more important than this – and I don’t need this hassle. The matter was closed but I’ve got a decent reputation in the game and I won’t stand by and be accused of saying something I didn’t. Our media team have got some audio and it backs me up.”
Drysdale thought Judge had exaggerated a fall “in a desperate attempt to gain a penalty kick” in the 90th minute of the goalless draw and so decided to issue a yellow card for simulation. “As I blew my whistle Alan Judge shouted aggressively in a loud voice at me and from a distance of only five metres, ‘It’s a f------ penalty you cheating bald c--!’” Drysdale told the commission.
“Reacting completely out of character, I took exception to what I considered to be an offensive comment. I walked towards Alan Judge who then continued his tirade of abuse as he then, what I deemed as, aggressively and provokingly pointed his finger towards my face and shouted, ‘You’re a f------ cheating c---!’
“I accept that I should not have moved my head towards Alan Judge as this only inflamed the situation. At no time was there any physical contact.”
Drysdale issued an apology on the day after the match and has not officiated in the subsequent three weeks. He accepted the charge of improper conduct and his suspension has been backdated so that he is now clear to referee again. The FA do not intend to take any disciplinary action against Judge.
Although the hearing focused on Drysdale’s conduct, the 10-page report does address the issue of referee abuse and how it “besmirches” football.
The report describes Drysdale and Judge as coming together “head to head” when the referee took a few steps forward after the player had moved quickly in his direction.