CAUGHT IN A WEBB
Premier League club chairman admits texting refs’ chief Howard Webb DURING game before controversial decisions
Club chief also insists talks over crucial issue will take place this week
IPSWICH TOWN’S chairman has admitted he texted referees chief Howard Webb DURING his side’s controversial draw with Leicester.
The Tractor Boys were 1-0 up at home on Saturday when star man Conor Chaplin was shoved in the box by Foxes ace Abdul Fatawu.
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Despite it appearing to be a clear penalty, the incident was bizarrely waved away by the referee and VAR.
Things then got even worse for Ipswich when Kalvin Phillips received a second yellow card and trudged off for an early bath.
And Ipswich’s worst fears were realised when Jordan Ayew nabbed a 94th-minute equaliser for Leicester to split the points.
It’s not the first time Kieran McKenna’s side feel they have been hard done by since their return to the top flight.
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In their 2-0 defeat to Everton, Ipswich were given a penalty for a foul on Jack Clarke before the ref’s decision was reversed by VAR.
And in the following week’s 4-3 defeat at Brentford, the promoted side saw VAR overturn a decision to award a free-kick while instead handing the Bees a decisive penalty.
Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton has now revealed he messaged ref chief Webb DURING his side’s game against Leicester, begging for talks on VAR clarity before his side were denied a penalty.
Ashton told BBC Radio Suffolk: “I thought Saturday was a real injustice. Those who know me know I care passionately about this club and will give my last breath defending it.
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“And I made that very clear to Howard Webb. I actually messaged him when we were 1-0 up because I had a sense of the way this was going to go.
“I said, ‘Can we speak directly after the game?’ We spoke and some of that conversation needs to remain private because I’ll end up being on a charge.
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“I’ve seen on international broadcasters today, former refs giving their opinion it’s not a penalty. You cannot be serious. Come on, don’t just back your former colleagues. It’s a stonewall penalty.
“All I look for is consistency and right now I’m confused. The culmination of that conversation with Howard is that we will meet this week at Portman Road to discuss it because we need answers.
“I can’t understand some of the decisions and I struggle to understand why we weren’t awarded a penalty.”
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