Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town chief executive Mark Ashton believes football has been "worse off" since the introduction of video assistant referee (VAR) and has called for more "consistency" around its application in the Premier League.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour, Ashton said: "From an entertainment perspective, I believe the game is worse off with VAR - from what I have seen.

"All I ask for with refereeing and VAR is consistency. We have not seen consistency. I don't personally believe, and my colleagues don't personally believe, that we have seen consistency over the games.

"All I look for is consistency. Right now, I am confused."

• Town considering stadium expansion

Ashton confirmed he has spoken to PGMOL chief Howard Webb after the Tractor Boys were denied a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Leicester City, after Abdul Fatawu appeared to push Conor Chaplin over in the box.

He added: "The culmination of the interesting conversation with Howard on Saturday night was that we will meet this week at Portman Road to discuss it. We need answers. We need to understand.

"At the moment, I cannot understand some of the refereeing decisions that were made and I struggle to understand why we weren't awarded a penalty.

"I have seen former referees giving their opinion that it wasn't a penalty, but they cannot be serious. Come on - don't just back your former colleagues - it was a stonewall penalty."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Richard Woodward
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

It has taken three months, but finally my resistance has been broken. I am doing a piece about VAR.

First let me say - all football fans should appreciate that refereeing is an extremely tough gig. Not only do you have to deal with the increasing physical demands of the modern game, but you need to be analysing and decision-making in real time. Not many could do it (or at least do it well) so big respect for those who can.

When the clamour grew for giving referees help, it was difficult to argue. The financial stakes at the top level are so high that video support was almost an imperative.

So how have we got to 2024 with such a fundamentally flawed concept, compared with every other major world sport? Why have we superseded understandable human error with counteracting, subjective video protocols - specifically, "referee's call" vs "clear and obvious"?

In a matter of weeks, my team Ipswich have come out on the wrong side of multiple situations where VAR either did not need to get involved but did anyway, or where it should have got involved but could not or would not.

The immediate aftermath of our latest penalty award VAR failure was a second booking and red card for Kalvin Phillips against Leicester. Even if this decision was the wrong call (and to be fair it was more debatable than the penalty), this situation is not permitted to be reviewed as second yellow cards leading to red cards are excluded from allowable VAR intervention. Why?!

Until the PGMOL establishes common sense protocols for utilisation of video assistance which can be applied both objectively and consistently, VAR is going to continue to ruin the spectacle of top-flight football, hang referees out to dry and meaningfully impact teams like Ipswich.

It would really help if those charged with discussing in national media where VAR has been poorly deployed, particularly ex-referees, do not try to hide it from fair criticism.

Find more from Richard Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

Ipswich Town CEO Mark Ashton is joining Brenner Woolley on The Blue Hour to take questions from fans right now.

You can watch a live stream of the discussion or listen on BBC Radio Suffolk.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Ipswich and Leicester.

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans:

Mike: Ipswich were brilliant - measured in play, aggressive, forward thinking, first to every ball. Unfortunately the ref and VAR were against us again - second home game in a row no penalty given. I'm sure we will have an apology from PGMOL like last time. Unfortunately doesn't give us the points back.

James: This was a big improvement on recent performances, with Town producing plenty of heart, a firm defence and a considerable threat going forward. We would have won the game nine times out of 10. It is a travesty we aren't coming away talking about Leif Davis' wonder goal but instead - yet again - discussing a sub-standard refereeing display.

Oli: Good Ipswich performance but poor (again) from referee and VAR. Almost every foul on Ipswich went unnoticed yet trying to book almost every player in the Ipswich line-up. Philips has to be more astute when on a yellow. Turned the game.

Paula: Should have been a penalty to Chaplin (right in front of us). No idea why VAR wasn't consulted. Should have been a free-kick to Morsy just before the goal. Didn't see the red card incident so can't comment on that. Ipswich were much the better side for the vast majority of the game.

Leicester fans:

Neil: Leicester got away with a result. Until the red card, Ipswich were the better team and Leicester struggled to show any real quality going forward. After the red card, the game changed and Leicester could have won it. A decent away point but not a great performance.

Simon: Not good enough again. We can't rely on scraping a point in added on time. We need to change our team selection and style. Cooper is out of his depth to compete at this level. The sooner the club sees this the better.

Wayne: We're still trying to establish our best 11, or 14, since being back in the Premier League. Post-Maresca's chess-style system was always going to be tough, and Cooper is trying his best to find that team. We lack transitioning from midfield to high-quality goalscoring opportunities around and in the box. The sending off was pivotal.

Narcis: This was an important point for the Foxes in a relegation battle. Now on course to stay up in the PL!

Image source, Getty Images

Former Ipswich defender Mick Mills spoke to BBC Radio Suffolk on the solution to Kalvin Phillips' red card against Leicester City on Saturday: "Cameron Burgess was almost dropping down the pecking order, but he’s come in and he’s been faultless really and he’s played really well.

"I thought that Conor Chaplin got his opportunity last week at Brentford and he took it. He has done the same [against Leicester] and he was probably one of our best players.

"When you look at the central midfield pairing, we had to play last week without Sam Morsy. Cajuste came in, probably earlier than we expected him to [after his injury] and not only did he get his own game going nicely, I thought he had improved Kalvin Phillips. That partnership seems to gel better than the Morsy-Phillips partnership has this season.

"The Morsy and Phillips partnership for me, wasn’t really taking off, that section of the game was behind other areas and it’s a really important area.

"Now all of a sudden it’s going to be Phillips out of the next game because of suspension, you think maybe Morsy-Cajuste could be OK.

"We have got a number of permutations there and a little less worry now that we have seen a number of them come in and play up to the standard, so maybe we will have a decent pairing."

Listen to more from the debate on BBC Radio Suffolk

Mark Ashton, Ipswich Town's chief executive, joins the Blue Hour with Brenner Woolley on BBC Radio Suffolk on Monday at 18:00 GMT.

He will be taking questions from callers and the Town community.

Submit a question here, external and listen to the full show here

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 2-1 Brighton

• Wolves 2-2 Crystal Palace

Mark Ashton, Ipswich Town's chief executive, joins the Blue Hour with Brenner Woolley on BBC Radio Suffolk on Monday at 18:00 GMT.

He will be taking questions from callers and the Town community.

Submit a question here, external and listen to the full show here

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It has been the story of Ipswich Town's season so far as they dropped points once again.

The Tractor Boys have dropped 12 points from winning positions, the most of any team in the Premier League this campaign.

Since their return to the Premier League, the newly-promoted side have scored the opening goal in five league games this season and not gone on to win any of those (D3 L2).

Relegation looks a distinct possibility with just five points after 10 games as Kieran McKenna's side went ahead before finishing the match with 10 men for the second successive game.

Kalvin Phillips was sent off for a second bookable offence after a late challenge on Ricardo Pereira with 12 minutes remaining and the home side were unable to hang on for their first league victory of the season.

Ipswich have registered five draws and five losses in their opening 10 games, the club’s longest winless run at the start of a top-flight campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

• Ipswich Town scored the opening goal of a fifth Premier League game this season, however, they haven’t gone on to win any of those (D3 L2) – overall, they have dropped 12 points from winning positions, the most of any Premier League team in 2024/25.

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna spoke to Sky Sports after today's draw: "It's a tough one to take. I thought we were much the better team and it's on the referee's decision again. It's a clear penalty and it goes 2-0. Kalvin pulls his foot out of the way and I don't think he has to make the decision."

On what he said to the referee: "I said I thought it was a penalty and it had to be given live. He said he thought there wasn't enough. I thought it was clear. The second yellow card, of course when you look at it in slow motion and the balls bouncing on the edge of the box. I trust Kalvin. I don't think it's a wild one. I know you can slow it down but in the context of the game, the ball is bouncing on the edge of the box, and he pulls out the challenge. It's not a wild one."

On dressing room atmosphere: "They're fuming. There's a sense of injustice in the room. We can always look at our bit and what we can do better but I don't think the boys have had a fair crack at it."

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich left-back Leif Davis has been speaking to Premier League Productions after today's draw: "We came in frustrated. I think we could have had a penalty. Everyone makes mistakes, we're human but it should have been given. We have to watch our heads after that. We're just disappointed."

On Kalvin Phillips' red card: "If you're playing against 10 men then you get that momentum swing. I think he's disappointed it happened and in his head he probably thinks he needs to be cleverer but it happened.

On his goal: "I'm buzzing that is my first goal but I would have been happier with the three points. We want to get points on the board. I was just in the right place at the right time. I've always wanted to score in the Prem.

"Everyone came in with clear heads and worked hard on the Monday morning after last week. We'll watch it back and improve."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Ipswich’s performance, external

What did you make of Leicester’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 10 he takes on The Piano TV series winner Brad Kella.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

I said last week that I was never going to predict another Ipswich win again this season, but I have changed my mind.

I have got to say that they were very unlucky to lose against Brentford last time out. They deserved more from that game.

I know Alan Shearer highlighted on Match of the Day how bad their stats are - they are ranked last in the Premier League for shots, expected goals and touches in opposition box, and second-last for shots on target, goals conceded and errors leading to goals, but they started so well in that game, going 2-0 up.

To then find themselves trailing 3-2 and down to 10 men is bad enough, but then they got themselves level late on, before being beaten in stoppage time when Bryan Mbeumo's cross crept in. That kind of defeat is going to be tough for them to take.

I am not absolutely convinced about Leicester either but, if Ipswich don't win this time, then I am not sure what it will do to their confidence.

Life in the top flight has been difficult enough for them so far, and I think they are going down anyway, but unless they get three points soon you start to wonder whether they will beat anyone.

Brad's prediction: 1-2

I like Leicester and they can win there, I think they’ve got to.

Read the full predictions and have your say

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle v Arsenal - 12:30

• Bournemouth v Manchester City

• Ipswich v Leicester

• Liverpool v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v West Ham

• Southampton v Everton

• Wolves v Crystal Palace - 17:30 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Ipswich player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.

The correct answer was Matt Holland.

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Leicester City (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Chiedozie Ogbene is unlikely to play against this season after surgery on an Achilles tear. McKenna said: "The operation went well, he is a positive guy anyway so he is already focused on his recovery and coming back strong. That will be a long way away but we will help him along the journey and he will get all the support he needs. The character he has, I'm sure he will come back strong."

• On the reaction to last weekend's defeat at Brentford: "It's been really good, it's been a good week here at the training ground, everyone that we have like that it is important to spend the time together. There was so many positives in the game, so many things to take belief in, but of course there are things we need to do better. But, you add all that in and it changes the perception of what would have been a really good point."

• He continued: "We have been through things like this before as a group. I know the group are pretty good at staying even on those things."

• Those "experiences" are how they are building resilience as a team: "The whole group hasn't been through it but a core group have been through it before, but there are good characters that have come into the building. They know these things are part of the game and you do everything you can to avoid it. It's part of football and it's the response that matters."

• On opponents Leicester: "They've added to their squad and signed some good new players, but most of their tactical things are pretty similar. On the ball and in possession they have similar shapes and positions that they take up on the pitch. They've varied it a bit through the season but in general it's a similar template. They still have the strengths and qualities of last year."

• He added: "They are a good side but every team in the Premier League is and we believe we are a good side as well. At home we focus on ourselves and we will deliver the best performance we can. We trust that, if we do that, we're a good match for anyone and it will give us a chance to win."

Catch up on all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Guess the former Ipswich player from their Premier League statistics at the club:

• Years at club: 1997-2003

• Position: Midfielder

• Premier League appearances for club: 76

• Premier League goals for club: 6

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich Town have said they are "deeply saddened" by the death of former striker Trevor Whymark, who passed away earlier this week, external at the age of 74.

Whymark made his debut for the Suffolk club in 1970 and made 335 appearances before leaving for Derby County in 1979.

His tally of 104 goals puts him sixth of Ipswich's all-time list of leading goalscorers.