Darren Drysdale: Referee charged by FA over clash with Ipswich player

Darren Drysdale booked Alan Judge for simulation shortly after their confrontation

Referee Darren Drysdale has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after clashing with Ipswich midfielder Alan Judge.

Drysdale has apologised for locking heads with Judge during Tuesday's goalless draw against Northampton Town.

The official moved his head towards Judge in the 90th minute and briefly appeared to square up to him.

In a statement, 49-year-old Drysdale said he "did not maintain his composure".

He has until Thursday, 4 March to respond to the FA charge.

"I can only apologise to Alan and Ipswich Town," Drysdale added in a statement released by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.

"I fully understand 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."

Drysdale booked Judge for simulation as players from both sides pulled him away, before sending off Ipswich midfielder Flynn Downes for using offensive language a couple of minutes later.

But Judge said, as far as he was concerned, the incident "was finished with" as soon as he left the pitch.

"Referees have a tough job to do and it was heat of the moment stuff that happens in football," Judge told the Ipswich club website.

"I wasn't looking for the referee to apologise; I wasn't looking for him to be charged. There was never going to be a complaint from me and I made that clear."

However, Ipswich manager Paul Lambert felt Lincolnshire official Drysdale had made "a watered-down apology".

"I'm hoping the Football Association will look at the whole incident, including Flynn's red card," Lambert told BBC Radio 5 Live Drive.

"By Darren's own admission, he said he wasn't in control."

'It's unacceptable'

Lambert has also asked the EFL to investigate the confrontation in the League One fixture.

"I spoke to [EFL head of referees] Mike Jones this morning," Lambert confirmed. "He found the whole thing a bit disheartening towards his referees.

Darren Drysdale showed a red card to Ipswich's Flynn Downes in stoppage time

"If Alan Judge had behaved in the same way towards the referee, he'd probably be looking at a six-month ban.

"I asked the referee after the game, 'did you put your head on my player?' and he told me where to go basically.

"I told him, 'if you did and footage proves so, you're in big trouble'. I think it's unacceptable.

"I look at it that's it's a referee's job to cope with the pressure. You have to go into that environment and be able to handle that.

"When a player goes to a referee, he has to be in control of his emotions and likewise, a referee has to be in control of theirs."

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