Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna faces an FA punishment for what he said about referees after the Aston Villa game on Saturday afternoon.
Reports say he is facing potential disciplinary action from the Football Association (FA) following comments he made about referees after the 1-1 draw in the Premier League.
McKenna criticised what he perceived as bias by referees against smaller clubs, particularly in reference to a yellow card given to his player, Axel Tuanzebe, during the game which resulted in Tuanzebe’s dismissal.
10 man Ipswich 1, 12 man Villa 1. Tuanzebe’s first yellow not even a foul 😬
Phenomenal stuff from #ITFC. pic.twitter.com/DVPKnyuwiO
— John Fenning (@berniefenning) February 15, 2025
He said: “I didn’t think it was a foul. Even if it was a foul, I think it was a decision given against a smaller team against a bigger team away from home.
“It (the yellow card) was out of the pocket before the ball even stopped rolling.
“I thought that was a really poor yellow. The second one, there’s not too many complaints.”
McKenna added: “A really good solid first 40 minutes, pretty much Even Stevens, then down to 10 men.”
And of Tuanzebe’s initial booking: “Anyone can make a mistake but I think it’s more how quickly the yellow came out.
“Even if it was a foul, so many times this season I’ve not seen a yellow on the first foul at all. And I don’t think it was a foul. I think he got the ball.
“If you’re booking a full-back for something like that away from home, you have to be right on the first foul, because you know it’s going to be a real hard game from then on.”
“I think the referee is actually too close”
Should Tuanzebe have received his first yellow card for this play? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6uiz7ngnVO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 17, 2025
#itfc pic.twitter.com/rSeHK49B6g
— 🏴Liam Mac🏴 (@choppo84) February 16, 2025
McKenna’s remarks were on the first yellow card shown to Tuanzebe, feeling that it was unfairly issued, and suggests referees might be influenced by the size of the club rather than the play itself.
His comments have drawn attention from the FA, which is known for its stringent policy on criticism of match officials.
The FA aims to clamp down on such statements to maintain the integrity and respect towards refereeing in football.
This situation has sparked a debate on the fairness and impartiality of refereeing in the Premier League, with former officials and pundits offering their perspectives.
For instance, Dermot Gallagher, a former referee, has argued that referees focus solely on the incident at hand without considering club size in their decisions.
Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports: “As a referee, you are so focused on what you have to do.
“You do not have time to think, ‘This club is bigger than this club’. It would not cross your mind.”
Former referees’ chief Keith Hackett said via Villa News: “The referee could not have been in a better position to judge this challenge and he could easily have avoided issuing that first yellow card.
“Rogers turned Tuanzebe, who got a slight touch of the ball and then made minimum contact with his opponent.
“Referee Jones was, in my opinion, too quick to pull out his card – a quiet word would have been sufficient.
“Already on a yellow, Tuanzebe’s second challenge was a foul and yellow card offence. Ipswich cannot appeal a yellow card so the player will serve a [one-match] ban.
“It was rather harsh given the circumstances of what I consider to be a cheap first yellow that was avoidable.”
The outcome could potentially lead to sanctions for McKenna, depending on the FA’s investigation and their interpretation of his comments under their rules regarding the conduct of managers and officials.
“We lost a very good opportunity, but we played aiming to win,” Emery said.
“The first half was a tough match when it was 11v11. We weren’t controlling the game like we are usually doing.
“They were getting a lot of duels individually and we were struggling, but even like that we had a very good chance to score with Ollie Watkins and we didn’t concede a lot.
“They were with one player less after the sending off and we were controlling the game, progressively dominating and creating chances.
“We conceded one goal so easily and it’s difficult to come back the result like we tried to do. We created chances and we played the second half dominating, sometimes playing with the control we want – doing more passes and trying to get into their box.
“We have to continue improving and try to build a team in the vision I want.
“We deserved to win and the goalkeeper saved a lot of actions. We have to accept this point because they defended very well and competed very well.”
Fans reacted as Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna faces an FA punishment for what he said about referees after the Aston Villa game…
@jamieisablue:
No pen on Chappers & Phillips 🟥 vs Leicester.
Tuanzebe 🟥 vs Villa.
Pen given & Clarke 🟥 vs Brentford.
Could have been at least 5 extra points there, but for poor officiating. Frustrating. #itfc
@ThatsJpToYou: @FA_PGMOL the standard of your ‘elite’ referees is abysmal. ❌ I hope referees like Jones & Oliver get feedback and help so they can make the game better for everyone instead of making it about them. VAR is still shambles, time for a change at the top! #itfc @premierleague
@JohnSlaterITFC: The Sky Sports Premier League Highlights on YouTube doesn’t even show the first Tuanzebe booking. Hahahahahaha. #ITFC
@joeylarts: Fucking shite officials again, Tuanzebe two fouls (first one wasn’t even a foul) 2 yellows and he’s gone. Little fucking rat McGinn has committed about 4/5 fouls and got fuck all. Shock. #itfc
@1KWillG: Tuanzebe first yellow shouldn’t have been a yellow, he’s committed 2 fouls and gotten 2 yellows, McGinn has committed 4 fouls and 0 yellows #itfc
@g_alav0ine1:
Morgan Rogers 3 fouls, plus delaying the restart = 0 cards
Axil Tuanzebe 2 fouls = 2 cards
@FA_PGMOL where is the consistency? #itfc
@JohnSlaterITFC: Tuanzebe got sent off for winning the ball and putting his hand on someone’s shoulder. Konate looks like he’d be allowed to kill a man before a second yellow. #ITFC
@VocalVillans: By the way, that first yellow card for Tuanzebe is a joke. I’d be fuming if I was an #ITFC fan. #AVFC fortunate there.
@BeetonScott: Quicker then me opening a pack of biscuits.
@MuhrensLeftPeg: Quick! He had it out before Rogers hit the ground.
@choppo84: This referee was an absolute disgrace yesterday
@RhysCurtis14: What they ganna do about it then? Fuck all? There’s a surprise!
@GodboldJason: Just a pity that the f.a var all the officials are so corrupt they’re all only there for the big teams and is very disappointing and ruins the game for everyone. As silly decisions like Axel’s constantly happen to us all the time, nothing gets looked at an done about it.
@ITFC20O5: Okay now what? We can’t fucking appeal it
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