Bobby Madden, the referee at the centre of Ipswich Town’s controversial 2-1 defeat at fog-shrouded Oxford United, has been cleared of any wrong-doing following an investigation by the PGMOL.
Blues boss Kieran McKenna labelled the end of that game, when players couldn’t see team-mates on the other side of the pitch due to the adverse weather conditions, as ‘ridiculous’.
Asked what had happened during a second half stoppage, when both sets of managers spoke to Madden with the scoreline locked at 1-1, McKenna replied: “Both myself and Karl (Robinson, Oxford manager), I believe, were both happy to play the game another day. Because it was going to be a lottery playing it in those last 20 minutes.
“I think the captains on the pitch were prepared for an abandonment, but the referee said that if it got abandoned after the 75th minute, even though it got stopped on the 74th minute, the result would stand.”
Robinson admitted: “I think they were quite keen for it to be called and, if I’m being totally honest, it probably should’ve been called off.”
With IFAB law 7.5 simply stating that ‘an abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers determine otherwise’ (with no mention of a time cut-off point), it’s understood that both clubs called for an inquiry.
The EADT and Ipswich Star understands that the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Board) carried out that investigation and concluded that neither Madden nor any of the match officiating team said what has been claimed.
Up until this season, Madden had spent his entire career officiating in his native Scotland. He's also taken charge of international, Champions League and Europa League fixtures involving the likes of Germany, Spain, England, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
After the Oxford investigation, he was assigned as the fourth official for a League Two clash between Tranmere Rovers and Leyton Orient. This Saturday he will be in charge of the League Two match between Northampton Town and Walsall.
It’s understood that Ipswich Town are unhappy at the findings, but will not be taking the matter further.
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