Republic of Ireland international and Ipswich midfielder Alan Judge has strongly disputed claims by referee Darren Drysdale over what he said before their on-pitch confrontation last month.
Drysdale was today handed a back-dated suspension over the incident, which happened during the Sky Bet League One match against Northampton at Portman Road on 16 February
The 50-year-old Lincolnshire official squared up to Judge and then appeared to lean his head into the Ireland international after the midfielder's appeal for a penalty had been turned down.
Drysdale subsequently apologised for his actions, but was charged with improper conduct.
In his statement, Drysdale said Judge screamed "it's a ******* penalty you cheating bald ****!". He added that the Dubliner followed it up by calling him "a ****ing cheating ****!"
Judge, who last played for Ireland in a 3-1 win over Bulgaria in May 2019, strongly denies the claims.
"I said the incident was over as far as I was concerned when I walked off the pitch and that I wasn't looking for an apology," he told the Ipswich club website.
"I didn’t want to make anything of it because it’s a tough job being a referee but I’m not going to keep quiet when I’ve been accused of calling the referee a cheat and using the C word.
"I’ll admit using the F word but I said to him ‘you have got to be F…… joking me and I said that a couple of times to him. I never used the C word. I don't use that word and I didn't call him a cheat."
Judge added that the death of his mother means he has more important matters to focus on, but said he won’t stand by the claims of the match official.
"Some people have said I should have come out straightaway and explained what I said but I didn’t want to do that. I was trying to help Darren.
"I said the matter was finished and it was but I have to make it clear now that I totally dispute what has been said by the referee."
