Scottish referee Bobby Madden has received a scathing review from Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna after refusing to call off their Oxford League One clash in heavy fog.
The whistler left the SFA behind last summer in favour of the English Football League and has taken charge of several high profile League One and League Two clashes, and was given the nod to oversee the clash at the Kassam Stadium in the midst of terrible conditions. Heavy fog descended on the clash with the game poised at 1-1, McKenna and Karl Robinson would speak to Madden and the fourth official over calling the game off.
Following the discussion at the side of the park the action was allowed to continue, before Oxford midfielder Cameron Brannagan netted the winner after 83 minutes. Following the game, McKenna claimed that Madden told the two bosses the game could not be called off after the 75 minute mark due to FA rules.
However, he insists that the Portman Road secretary has checked the rule book and that there is no guidance that would stop a call off. FA rule 7.5 state: "An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers determine otherwise."
Speaking to club TV, McKenna said: "You couldn't see the ball on the sideline, and you couldn't see it on the pitch. We made that clear to the referee and had a discussion around it. I think the game should have been played on another day that was better for football. We are disappointed and annoyed by that.
"Myself and Karl both told our concerns to the fourth official at the start of the half; that we couldn't see the ball and it was looking like there were mistakes on the pitch because of that. We spoke to the referee on the 74th minute spoke to the fourth official.
"Between the staff and players the feeling was let's come back and fight another day in proper conditions. At that stage the referee said that because the 75 mark had passed the result would have to stand, there would have to be a draw, and there would be no replays. In those conditions, my team, we want to win and we thought we would take our chances that we can get the winner.
"The frustration and the confusion at the minutes is that our club secretary has told us that is not the rules and there is nothing in the rule book about that. We will address it and get to the truth of what it was. I don't think the game should have been played in those conditions, but we can't get it back."
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