Ashton Beyond Annoyed By Town's Week of Refereeing Woe
Friday, 13th Mar 2026 19:59

Town chairman and CEO Mark Ashton says he’s “beyond annoyed” by the week of refereeing woe which has cost the Blues potentially four more points and the loss of Cedric Kipre and Leif Davis to suspensions.

The referees’ body the PGMOL confirmed that the Blues should have been awarded two penalties by referee John Busby in last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Leicester, the second in the dying seconds, which led to Kipre picking up his ninth booking of the season as the Ivorian protested he had been fouled.

Similarly, Stoke City’s last-gasp penalty which claimed them a point against the Blues at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday was later deemed to have been an incorrect decision by referee Thomas Kirk, Kipre picking up his 10th booking and a two-game ban for the alleged foul.

Then today, it emerged that the FA has suspended Leif Davis for a clash in the Leicester game in which he apparently pulled the hair of Caleb Okoli, although video evidence suggests the initial clash was entirely inadvertent with other worse more deliberate infractions going on around the incident.

“Frustrated, disappointed, beyond annoyed at a week of officiating, which I think has clearly cost us four points,” Ashton told BBC Suffolk. “Cost us Cedric Kipre for two games and now Leif Davis for three games.

“I think Town fans who have got to know me over the four or five years of being here know I care passionately about this football club. Part of my role is to defend my manager, my players, my team and represent this fanbase to the best of my ability.

“And right now the club’s hurting. I’m hurting, my manager’s hurting, the players are hurting, Leif’s hurting.

“We are currently awaiting written details and full transparency of the decision-making process, but I am frustrated with the timing, the process and ultimately the decision. And I’m angry.”

Ashton says he has kept in contact with Davis while the matter has been ongoing in the background and that the club weren’t able to present their case in the manner they would have liked.

“I’ve spoken to Leif consistently over the last few days and I have to be tempered in what I say because I have to represent the football club, but I’d say to fans, read in the tone of my voice how I feel,” he said.

“A lot of people are working hard at this football club trying to do the right thing by this football club and trying to build something really special. And we’re all frustrated with a week of officiating, Leicester game, Stoke game and now the Leif Davis three-game ban.

“We were allowed only to make written submissions in the defence of Leif, we weren’t allowed to go and make our case face to face, and, as I’ve said, I’m currently awaiting detailed transparency on that decision-making process, and I reserve the club’s position until I’ve had that.”

Regarding the Blues’ week of refereeing woe more generally, Ashton added: “Again, read the tone of my voice. I speak to a number of clubs consistently across the Premier League and the Championship and I think all we ask for is consistency, consistency in decision-making.

“And I think the fans, the 30,000 fans who are in Portman Road week in, week out, the amazing travelling fans [feel the same].

“The incident with Leif will be shown on social media and a variety of platforms and if you look at both penalty boxes, every time there is a corner for a home team or an away team, it’s like WWE wrestling in the box.

“And all I ask is consistency of decision-making, whether that’s in the Premier League or whether that’s in the EFL. And right now, I’m extremely frustrated at that.”

Asked whether he has now changed his mind on the introduction of VAR into the Championship, having said he was no fan during the Blues’ season in the Premier League, Ashton added: “We were subject to VAR for the first time in the Premier League last season and I don’t think that the challenge is ultimately with VAR, I think it's the implementation of VAR.

“VAR is not currently doing what it was originally set out to do. It was made very clear to us when we experienced VAR that VAR was there to deal with clear and obvious. Again, I repeat the words, clear and obvious, so that's a clear and obvious error. And the creep beyond clear and obvious is very obvious for everyone to see now.

“I do think we need to assist referees. VAR in its current format I would not support in the Championship, no chance. I think it detracts from this amazing sport and this amazing game.

“But I do think referees need assistance with clear and obvious errors, which we've talked about and what we've suffered in the last seven to 10 days.”

Meanwhile, Ashton confirmed the Blues voted in favour of extending the Championship play-offs to six teams from the start of next season.

Photo: TWTD

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bluelad7 added 20:17 - Mar 13 Both of Kipres bookings should be void. Simple. Disgraceful that they come out and say the ref has fecked up that not only lost us points but also create a suspension. Corrupt or just incompetent.
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brazilblue added 20:19 - Mar 13 Not even allowed to contest the decision. It's farcical how bad the officiating is and the absolute lack of accountability, yet players can be retrospectively punished for seemingly nothing. Could just about stomach one game ban, but three for that is utterly ridiculous.
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jas0999 added 20:27 - Mar 13

Yes, a terrible week of decisions. But seriously?! We haven’t heard from Ashton for a while - sounds like he’s making excuses as to why we are well behind where we need to be right now. Perhaps focus on not turning up first half against Leicester and Stoke.

I’m not defending the refereeing this past week, it’s been atrocious. But was Ashton critical against Derby at home when the ref played sixteen minutes of added time, and awarded a soft penalty. Debatable penalties given in our favour at Birmingham and at home to Preston to bail us out of trouble. Probably not.

The overall standards this season has however been extremely poor. We have had some Ho our way. Some against. Unless we want VaR in the championship, that’s how it is unfortunately.

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Edmundo added 20:42 - Mar 13 Someone to assist the referee? Like assistant referees, running the touch line you mean? Pity that they are, more often than not, spineless yes-people who use a flag like a visual echo of the referee's decision.
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runningout added 21:01 - Mar 13 we are better than whining about referees etc… Pull our socks up and it’ll be no problem
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Bluewhiteboy added 21:01 - Mar 13 Jas agree. He knows the owners probably think the same of his performance this and last season. Backed the club superbly and not been repaid
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peterleeblue added 21:11 - Mar 13 Edmundo. AR's at this level have a communications kit. They will be talking to the ref through all decisions in field of credibility and assisting in blind side offences. He can only feed in what he sees to the Ref. Ultimately its the refs call.
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darkhorse28 added 21:26 - Mar 13

Mark needs to grow up. Obviously not wrong about the the decisions, but equally true Leif should have got a red, we’ve all got eyes, if the ref sees it, it’s a straight red, and we’d have a point less!

The dog whistle ‘deflection’ is just that, we gained from one huge refereeing mistake, lost out on two others, not great, but won’t define our season.

Two years of poor signings, relying on the WBA rolodex, caving in to KM’s demands when he agreed to join Brighton, spending £200 million on players most of which haven’t worked out, a manager that’s struggled to motivate two squads, tactics, coaching THEY DO define performances, results and where we finish in the table, which already (relative to resources) we all know won’t be good enough.

So control what we can.

Why doesn’t he address those issues??? Show some leadership and honesty…, instead it’s dog whistle nonsense to fans. Pure deflection and avoidance. Take responsibility for what you can influence.

YOU are not good enough. That’s a bigger issue than any ref. We get them maybe twice a season - we’ve had this for two years, ever since he had resources, it’s exposed how far from elite he is.

I wish the refs would talent the media and deflect from their failings, by critiquing Marks performance the last two years!! He’s as bad or worse at his job than they are.

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tractordamage added 22:40 - Mar 13 Mark Ashton shows human emotion, loyalty, etc...and this triggers a couple of peeps who lack it. Hmmm. Darkhorse is going a bit crazy with the Narcissist Word Salad, he seems to have found some new words to dehumanise people...which bear no relation to anything happening. Some people just thrive on Hate and Division.
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Paulc added 23:33 - Mar 13

@Darkhorse did you actually watch the interview? Especially the bit where he said "We can't do it on our own, we need everyone to back the manager, back the players for our remaining 10 cup finals"?

It's not your £200m he's spent is it! He's here to represent and run the club for all of us, and thankfully people like you are the minute minority. Judge the performance at the end of the season by all means. But if you can't get behind the team is there any chance you could stay silent rather than try and disrupt and cause division.

There are 68 teams in the football league below us who would all love to be in our position and it's not like we weren't one of them in very recent times, so why anyone feels they have the given right to expect more is beyond me.

Granthamblue62 added 23:56 - Mar 13

Darkhorse28, I totally agree with all of your comments. Amazed that you received so many 'thumbs down' - the bloody happy clappers again who live by the delusional mantra that Ashton and McKenna can do no wrong. The FACT is that for 3 games in a row we have failed to turn up. McKenna sets the team up and presumably motivates them? Yes, refereeing over the past 2 games has been piss poor, so a call for consistency is right. But, lets look at the other FACTS. Recruitment over the past 2 years has been patchy at best. Our front line (Akpom, Azon and Hirst) are largely toothless. The defence at any given time is liable to collapse. Chambers, post Stoke game highlighted that collectively there was a lack of composure. Leadership on the pitch is piss poor. I'm sure O'Shea does a lot for charity, kind to his Ma etc, but not a leader. I call this group McKenna's Misfiring Misfits - as he is unable to get a consistent tune out of them. In my view, this team is mentally weak. We have not shown enough to deserve promotion. I think the current top 3 are the best in the league this year.

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hyperbrit added 00:12 - Mar 14 Sports used to be an entertainment but has now become a paliative to distract from the sh...t show we live in.At that point the level of corruption becomes the norm and cannot be rationalized by mere incompetence.
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armchaircritic59 added 00:13 - Mar 14

Well that was an interesting video. I confess it's the first time I've seen it from that angle. One things obvious, Azon was fouled, grappled and slam dunked to the ground. I think a blind man would have seen it. That incident occured before the LD one. I couldn't honestly see a hair pull, but LD was just stupid anyway for turning back and pushing the guy onto the ground. Something seriously has to be done about this penalty box scrimmaging at set plays, particularly corners.

As for MA's comments, well I think we all agree that the incorrect decisions were made regarding the penalties, as underlined by the PGMOL " apologies ". However it's no good crying over spilt milk. As I've put in another post, the best way we can right any perceived injustices is for the team to go out and take them out on upcoming opponents, starting with Sheff W, where anything else than a victory isn't acceptable. I think it's high time we started matches on the front foot and played at a much greater tempo with one and no more than two touch passing, as we've proved when we do, not many can live with us in this league. Over to you KM and the team.

Jugsy added 00:33 - Mar 14 Granthamblue62 - you can’t work out why darkhorse has so many thumbs down votes? I can help, most of it is drivel and divisive nonsense, for which he is in the minority. It appears you wish to occupy the same void.
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BlueMoon added 06:52 - Mar 14 Watching the clip, the thing that grates the most is the man screeching “get away town”, that’s how bad it is!
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ipswichone added 07:56 - Mar 14

The decisions made over the last ten days are farcical,especially in my opinion cisse dramatically collapsing to the ground,and being given a penalty.why is cisse not receiving a ban?and why do referees have carte Blanche to make any decision,and not be disciplined.If we don't reach the premier league this season,then those bad decisions will be all we remember. Let's hope we never see busby or kirk officiating anymore Ipswich games.onwards and upwards!up the town!

slobfeatures added 08:02 - Mar 14

Problem is not the bad penalty decisions but when they are given
AsJas0999 stated Debatable penalties given in our favour at Birmingham and at home to Preston to bail us out of trouble.but by and large we’ve forgotten them. It’s the ones at the business end of season that irritate as it seems to make a the difference between auto promotion or playoffs or just missing out on both. I still say that it evens out over the course of the season. I’d still rather have mistakes by refs on pitch than the farce that is VAR.

RetroBlue added 08:45 - Mar 14

Most if not all of what Darkhorse writes IS true. There's a helluva lot of fans on here need to stand back fir a moment and reflect. Put those 2 promotions to one side for a moment. Theyre gone, finished eith we are sipposed to move on. He cznt " lice" on that forever!!

One promotion was from League One with a disproportionately funded team for the level it was at. The other was a crawl over the line mainly on the back of momentum and primarily capitulation by Weds). Look at how Wrexham have done on the bavk of momentum and with far less funding! ...since those peomotions 3 yrs ago. McKenna has had TWO squad's totally of his own making, at vastly inflated fees, that he has failed to utilise and get the best out of either collectively or individually, given his widely acclaimed credentials, AND MASSIVE personal contract. Neither if these squad's gave performed. Two different sets of players but one common denominator, McKenna!

Come on , WHAT has he achieved in the last two years? You all know, that st any other clubs hed have been shown the door over a year ago. This season we've been so inconsistent in our form, but very consistent in our one tactic, which every opposition managers knows inside out. The man doesn't change, diesnt adapt and constantly rotates. There's no stability, no real " team"...

....and as for his partner at the Club, Ashton. His recruitment for levels of spending is largely shocking. Paying way over the top for largely average players. Recruitment up the A140 at just a fraction of the cost, and Covebtry, Millwall , Boro are actually performing far better.

So, if some of you really think this duo are earning their corn atm then I suggest your bar is very, very low.

Cue the down arrows because thats your usual response instead of discussing the issue.

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ipswichboi added 08:57 - Mar 14 Saturday morning, the sunshine is back. But the first thing people do is hammer MA and KMcK lol. Last 2 refs have been dreadful, there is no doubting that. Hopefully the cards/retro ban spur us on. Support the lads CoYB
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cardinaldom88 added 10:42 - Mar 14

Retroblue, it is possible for people to disagree with your opinion and discuss, while readers are free to give down arrows if they so like.

I remember that it used to be the case that if it wasn't in the referees report, then it wasn't something that could be returned to after the game. It was stated, I believe by the referees association some time ago about not administering retrospective punishments. That changed somewhat and went further when Morsy was punished by the EFL for his actions recorded by the owner of Accrington Stanley, I believe.

That said, if the EFL are now reviewing games and deciding that incidents can be punished even after the referee took no action in the game, then may be they can start looking at simulation and given warnings, fines and suspensions for those that mimic injury especially feigning contact to the head / face when. I think it would feel fairer to me if this was the case and, in my opinion, would also make football a more attractive spectacle as it would be an opportunity to stamp that out of the game.

In regards of this instance, clearly Leif should not have pushed the player and you can barely see the hair pull but he admitted the charge and has to take the punishment (which is also harsh, in my opinion). As Ashton has said, however, I would hope that this is being applied consistently across the league so that all such incidents are being punished in the same manner.

Churchman added 11:52 - Mar 14

Darkhorse - hadn’t really heard from you until this week. I hope you are feeling better now.

Since we are only talking about spend the figure is £213m. Obviously, sales and current player values are dismissed in your world because they ‘haven’t worked out’. So your solution after sacking all the staff is I presume free transfers for all the players including Philogene, Clarke. Davis, Mehmeti, Nunez, Matusiwa, Hirst, O’Shea 2x keepers, Bluey and Crayzee.

Oh, and to return the fees we were paid for Delap, Broadhead, Hutchinson, Woolfy because the ‘haven’t worked out’ and that’d get us to your figure if £200m.

Yep, makes perfect sense to me!

On the ball City!

Back on planet earth, I agree with Ashton’s point about consistency. If you are going to re-referee games and administer punishments properly then if they are consistent an awful lot of players are going to be banned.

How about reviewing diving and cheating which is rife? No, it’s called simulation to gloss over the cheating bit and ignored. How about overturning bookings that are obviously wrong?

poldark added 11:52 - Mar 14 Ashtons a pathetic moron moan moan moan he needs to grow up and take some responsibility for signing useless players and not sacking McKenna simple as that
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poldark added 11:52 - Mar 14 Ashtons a pathetic moron moan moan moan he needs to grow up and take some responsibility for signing useless players and not sacking McKenna simple as that
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ITsparks78 added 12:26 - Mar 14

I they can retrospectively look back and ban players, then they can take them back, when they have made a mistake.
Comments about signings are correct, we knew we needed a striker,in both transfer windows, it never happened.
KmK needs a plan b during games, in any division, we have been worked out by other managers in this league. Until he does, we will struggle to get out of the championship, and be uncompetitive in the premiership.

Edmundo added 12:30 - Mar 14 Thosecwho support the Town, let's get behind the team. Those who want to b*tch and moan, jog on. Those opinions are valid, but we are in need of support to get us over the line, and criticism can wait till June.
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