The referee for Ipswich Town’s upcoming fixture against Charlton Athletic in League One has been changed following controversy over the team the referee in question supports, according to TWTD.
Referee James Bell, who is a supporter of League One promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday, was due to be the man in the middle as Kieran McKenna’s side prepares to welcome the Addicks to Portman Road on Saturday.
However, according to TWTD, The Tractor Boys were quick to make the relevant authorities aware of the situation and requested that another referee should take charge of the League One fixture instead of Bell, with Sam Barrott his eventual replacement.
Barrott, who was initially appointed to be the fourth official for the game between Stevenage and AFC Wimbledon at the Lamex Stadium in League Two, will now be the man in the middle at Portman Road on Saturday after swapping appointments with Bell.
Referee Changed For Charlton Match https://t.co/OJQnYCCP29 #itfc #efl #leagueone #swfc #pafc #cafc #barnsleyfc
— TWTD.co.uk – #itfc (@twtduk) April 14, 2023
The West Riding-based official will now be taking charge of the fixture at Portman Road, with Barrott previously taking charge of the club’s 1-1 draw away at Cambridge United in February, as well as also being the man in the middle for Ipswich’s opening game of the season against Bolton Wanderers at home, with the game also finishing 1-1.
Kieran McKenna’s side currently lies third in the League One table, sitting two points behind Sheffield Wednesday at the top of the league and a point behind Plymouth Argyle in second with six games of the regular season left to play.
Ipswich are looking to make a return to the Championship following relegation from the second division in 2019 in which the club have spent the last four seasons playing in League One.
Writers View
As much as it might seem a little petty to some, I think Ipswich have approached this the correct way as the race for both the title and the automatic promotion places heats up, with both Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday right in the thick of the fight as well as Plymouth Argyle and Barnsley.
With the referee being changed, it signals away from any danger of any potential bias against the Tractor Boys at Portman Road on Saturday as the club starts the run-in of the final six games with everything still left to play for.
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