Premier League chief set for Howard Webb meeting after referee request that Arsenal will agree with

Ipswich Town chief executive Mark Ashton has revealed that he is set to meet with PGMOL boss Howard Webb to discuss the consistency of refereeing decisions. It’s a conversation that are likely to be keeping an eye on.

The Tractor Boys were denied their first win of the season on Saturday thanks to Jordan Ayew’s 94th-minute equaliser for Leicester City in the 1-1 draw. The goal came after Ipswich appeals for a penalty were waved away earlier in the second half following a coming together between Abdul Fatawu and Conor Chaplin, a VAR check deemed the decision not to be a clear and obvious error.

To make things worse for Ipswich, just a couple of seconds after the incident, Kalvin Phillips was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Ricardo Pereira. Kieran McKenna’s 10 men were unable to hold on for the victory.

The decision not to award a penalty is one of a few Ipswich feel have not gone their way so far this season. And Ashton has now delivered a strong message on the refereeing and VAR.

"From an entertainment perspective, I believe the game is worse off with VAR - from what I have seen," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"All I ask for with refereeing and VAR is consistency. We have not seen consistency. I don't personally believe, and my colleagues don't personally believe, that we have seen consistency over the games. All I look for is consistency. Right now, I am confused."

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He added: "I actually messaged Howard when we were 1-0 up because I had a sense of the way this was going to go. I've been in this game a long time and I could feel it.

"I messaged him simply and said, 'Look, can we speak directly after the game?'. We spoke directly after the game and some of that conversation needs to remain private because I'll end up being on a charge, I'll end up being on a stadium ban, I'll end up being fined, none of which worries."

The chief then revealed that he is set for another conversation with Webb this week. “The culmination of the interesting conversation with Howard on Saturday night was that we will meet this week at Portman Road to discuss it," he said.

"We need answers. We need to understand. At the moment, I cannot understand some of the refereeing decisions that were made and I struggle to understand why we weren't awarded a penalty.

"I have seen former referees giving their opinion that it wasn't a penalty, but they cannot be serious. Come on - don't just back your former colleagues - it was a stonewall penalty."

The subject of consistency is one that will resonate with Arsenal, with some of the decisions made against the Gunners this season. Both and have been shown second yellow cards for delaying the restarts.

was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity vs Bournemouth. Arsenal fans have, in separate games that have not received the same punishment.