Referee Darren Drysdale gets back the whistle

Referee Darren Drysdale has been cleared to officiate again after being given a back-dated suspension by an independent regulatory committee following his on-field confrontation with Ipswich midfielder Alan Judge.

Drysdale was charged by the FA with improper conduct after squaring up to and pressing heads against Judge during Ipswich’s League One match with Northampton on February 16.

Drysdale hasn’t refereed since the incident, and has now been given a back-dated suspension, which ran from February 19 to March 10. He has also been given a warning as to his future conduct.

Drysdale squared up to Alan Judge before booking the Ipswich player in their goalless draw against Northampton

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An FA statement released on Thursday said: “An independent Regulatory Commission has given Darren Drysdale a back-dated suspension and warning as to his future conduct for a breach of FA Rule E3.

“The match official admitted that his behaviour during the 90th minute of an EFL League One tie between Ipswich Town FC and Northampton Town FC on Tuesday 16 February 2021 amounted to improper conduct.

“The suspension, which ran from 19 February 2021 to 10 March 2021, and warning were imposed by the independent Regulatory Commission during a subsequent hearing.”