Former referee Dermot Gallagher has backed the decision not to award Ipswich Town a penalty in their 1-1 draw against Leicester City.

The incident came late in the match after a free-kick was cleared up to Conor Chaplin. Winger Abdul Fatawu wiped him out with a shove inside the box, leaving the players and supporters furious when referee Tim Robinson opted against giving a penalty.

Town boss Kieran McKenna voiced his frustrations after the game. He was told that the challenge was reviewed by VAR, but that they supported the decision to stick with the referee’s on-field call.

When asked about it on Sky Sports’ ‘Ref Watch’, Gallagher said: "The VAR did check that because I listened to it. It was felt the referee's on-field call was the correct call. He makes the call and there's not enough to overturn.

"We asked earlier in the season for the referees to make decisions and, if you look at the referee, he has the perfect position and he immediately waves it away.

"When the VAR asks him what he sees, he will relay that back. They said it was not a clear and obvious error so the game went on.

"If I was the VAR, I don't think I could get involved."

Former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Leeds United defender Stephen Warnock saw it differently, arguing that it was a blatant penalty and that McKenna had every right to be furious after the match.

Stephen Warnock said that it was a 'clear and obvious mistake' for Tim Robinson not to award a penalty for Abdul Fatawu's shove on Conor ChaplinStephen Warnock said that it was a 'clear and obvious mistake' for Tim Robinson not to award a penalty for Abdul Fatawu's shove on Conor Chaplin (Image: Steve Waller)

"I think that's a clear and obvious mistake from the referee and that is where I'd rather the VAR came in and said they thought a mistake had been made, so go to the screen and have another look,” he said.

"I understand we want to see referees taking more control - I get that - but it's a penalty. That's the most frustrating part of it.

"Kieran McKenna was incensed on the sidelines and rightly so."

Of course, the penalty incident was followed up by a second yellow card for Ipswich midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who clipped Ricardo Pereira just outside the penalty area.

His first booking, which came for a late challenge on Facundo Buonanotte in the first half, was understandable, but there’s more debate surrounding the second one, with McKenna arguing that Phillips tries to pull out of the challenge.

He stated that Robinson shouldn’t have made two significant calls within seconds of each other to change the game, particularly when the first one seemed to be so clearly wrong.

"The referee felt it was enough,” Gallagher explained. “He catches him high up. I don't know why he makes the challenge because he's not going to win the ball.

"Whether he tries to pull out of the challenge or not, he gives the referee a decision to make. He doesn't have to leave his boot up there.

"As we all know, a second yellow is the referee's choice; the VAR can't get involved."