Referee Darren Drysdale has apologised for his confrontation with Ipswich midfielder Alan Judge on Tuesday.
The 49-year-old official appeared to square up to Judge and lean his head into the Republic of Ireland international after the midfielder’s appeal for a penalty had been turned down.
The bizarre incident happened as the full-time whistle approached in Ipswich's 0-0 draw against Northampton, with Judge stepping forward and pointing at the referee while getting his views across.
And, unusually, the referee reacted by putting his head towards that of Judge before players from both sides separated the pair.
The official then booked Judge before play restarted. He would then send off Judge's Ipswich teammate Flynn Downes in stoppage time.
“I fully understand that it is important for us as referees to maintain our composure throughout the game and always engage with players in a professional manner,” Drysdale said in a statement released by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited.
“I’m sorry that I did not do that last night and I can only apologise to Alan and Ipswich Town.”
The PGMOL statement added: “As The FA are now investigating the incident in line with their usual disciplinary process it would not be appropriate to make any further comments.”
Drysdale, 49, is an experienced refere having joined the Football League as an assistant in 1996, doing the same in the Premier League two years later.
He ran the line in the 2000 FA Cup final as Graham Poll was the man in the middle and became a FIFA assistant referee in the same year.
Drysdale was appointed to the Football League national list of referees in 2004, taking charge of his first game on August of that year, a 0-0 draw between Rushden and Diamonds and Kidderminster Harriers.
Pressure on Ipswich boss Paul Lambert will ramp up further after the goalless draw which leaves the Tractor Boys 11th in League One - four points outside the playoff places.
