Town boss Kieran McKenna has revealed he was in the meeting with referees’ chief Howard Webb at Portman Road on Wednesday afternoon along with CEO and chairman Mark Ashton to discuss the Blues’ concerns regarding VAR and refereeing since promotion to the Premier League.

The meeting with Webb, the chief refereeing officer of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), followed a frank exchange of views in the wake of the Blues being denied a penalty during last week’s game against Leicester City when Conor Chaplin was fouled and the subsequent harsh dismissal of Kalvin Phillips for a second bookable offence.

VAR’s decision not to overturn referee Tim Robinson’s decision, with the official appearing to have been unsighted when the incident took place, was in stark contrast to situations in previous games in which the Blues had a spot-kick overruled against Everton and then one awarded against them at Brentford after the referee there initially gave a free-kick.

Asked about Webb’s visit to Suffolk, McKenna said: “I was in the meeting. I think, as has been said, it's a confidential meeting out of respect to all parties.

“I think as a club we made our position clear. I spoke last Saturday I think with clear eyes on how I've seen the incident and the comparison to the incidents that we've had in the games before that, so there's nothing really more to add on that. 

“And in terms of the group, as we've come into the building this week, it's been, as always, about focus and what we can control.

“Of course, there was a big sense of injustice in the group on Saturday. That was still probably there on Monday, but we addressed it and full focus has been on what we can control and preparing as well as we can for Tottenham and not wasting any energy on anything in the past or anything that we can't control now.

“So that's where the group’s at and we're looking forward to this weekend. And in terms of the other things, as the week has gone on, it's certainly not been prominent in my mind. And we're just getting ready for Tottenham.”

Pressed on whether it was a case of highlighting a number of key incidents, McKenna added: “I spoke about that after the game on Sunday, my feelings on the incident, the comparison with the incident against Everton and incidents in other games. So those things I've spoken about publicly and I’ve nothing really to add on that.”

A PGMOL spokesperson had previously said that they wouldn’t be commenting on the discussion: “The contents of the meeting between ourselves and Ipswich Town will remain private.”

Photo: Action Images

ValleyBoyBlue added 16:17 - Nov 8 What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Siege mentality and "it's us against the world" type team talks never hurt anyone. Kieran will turn this to our advantage COYB
9

CornardBlue added 16:21 - Nov 8 30000 thousand people in the ground saw the foul on Conor, one person who should have seen it did not. What a joke said he was unsighted if this was the case he should have asked VAR for clarification.
10

50yearsablue added 16:50 - Nov 8 Personally, I would have got over the penalty injustice quicker had the referee not compounded his error with the red card, making it a double whammy. I'm reasonably confident that we would have seen the game through as Leicester had run out of ideas
5

singtown added 16:51 - Nov 8 Please investigate that referee for bribery and demote him to officiate elementary school games, he need to start from the beginning again!
4

portadownblue added 17:30 - Nov 8 Confidential, schmonfidential.. Fans are owed an explanation from PGMOL and Webb.
2

ChingShady added 17:52 - Nov 8 Singtown the guy is barely adequate to be referee'ing over 60s 5 a side reserve team games.
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Suffolkboy added 17:58 - Nov 8 PDB - couldn’t agree more with your sentiments . The somewhat ‘arrogant’ approach of the PGMO must be changed ,and communication with supporters of Football placed somewhere at the very top of day to day requirements ! Where oh where is the courage needed to effect change ? COYB
1

littlestoneblue added 17:59 - Nov 8 The referee had perfect visual of the incident as shown on MOTD highlights also had vision of the sending off of Phillips the Leicester player dived after minimal contact from Phillips and was congratulated by the manager for getting Phillips sent off, Karma will happen and Leicesters manager will be sacked FACT.
4

Nthsuffolkblue added 19:11 - Nov 8 Referees make mistakes but VAR is supposed to be there to help them correct those mistakes. When such an obvious error goes unchallenged by VAR you are left wondering why.
3

Facefacts added 19:42 - Nov 8 Wear pink every away match if we get a VAR decision on Sunday.
0

ArnieM added 20:06 - Nov 8 PL corrupt at F ***.... FACT!
1

bobble added 01:47 - Nov 9 Maybe there should be further VAR reviews during the game of poor decixions ,and if they are found to be incorrect after the final whistle is blown, the team the team who VAR wrongly judged not to be awarded penalty should get a chance to take that penalty after the whistle...and if they score that goal is included in the result...seems a fair way to correct a VAR mistake...

0

Dissboyitfc added 07:29 - Nov 9 cornardblue.. the facts are it did go to VAR and they said there was nothing to it but a coming together of 2 players therefore in their opinion nothing to overturn, complete bo!!0xs!! Really calls into question the integrity of PGMOL.
1

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