February 19 – The referee who squared up to a player during an English league game last week has been removed from the next fixture he was due to take charge of tomorrow.
Darren Drysdale, who handled Ipswich Town’s League One home tie with Northampton, appeared to lock heads with Ipswich midfielder Alan Judge in an extraordinary exchange. The 50-year-old official appeared to square up to Judge and lean his head into the Republic of Ireland international after the midfielder’s appeal for a penalty had been turned down.
The incident made nationwide football headlines and the English FA charged Drysdale with improper conduct on Wednesday following the game. He has now been stood down from the League Two fixture between Southend and Bolton.
“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,” Drysdale said in a statement.
Contact the writer of this story at andrew.warshaw@insideworldfootball.com