IPSWICH boss Paul Jewell has admitted he was “amazed” by being caught up in a sexism row following his comments directed at assistant referee Amy Fearn following Town’s 2-1 defeat by Birmingham City.

While looking to draw a line over the whole unsavoury incident and focus on the visit of Blackpool tomorrow, Jewell predictably faced a barrage of questions following his criticism of Fearn after the penalty-that-never-was at St Andrews.

But Jewell insisted his strong words had nothing to do with the sex of the official – just the fact that she got a key decision wrong.

The manager said: “There was just absolutely no comment there that I thought could be construed as sexist.

“I thought the lineswoman, the assistant referee, had a really good view of it. Had it be a man, I would have said the same thing. I thought it was a poor decision. Because she’s female doesn’t make any difference to me, she just got that decision wrong.

“I spoke to the officials after the match. We had a frank and honest discussion, she and the referee gave their point of view, I gave my point of view, I said good night and there was no problem.”

Jewell revealed that he had spoken to a colleague of Fearn’s yesterday and was told she had no problem with his comments.

He added: “She hasn’t taken offence by what happened and I have no plans to call her. She is an official at a Championship game, she is there on merit – not because she is a woman – and I have no problem with women officials in football.

“She is a good assistant referee but she got that one wrong, the referee got it wrong.”