On September 20, that Sky Bet Championship game between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town made a surprising right angle. Referees determined that the match should be called off because the state of the pitch had deteriorated significantly. When abandoned, Blackburn Rovers were winning 1-0, with Todd Cantwell scoring from the spot in the 60th minute. The English Football League (EFL) is now requiring the London sides’ rivals to replay the entire match. This decision has considering from many fans and club officials.
At first, the pitch conditions didn’t seem too bad, with the ball bouncing nicely in the opening 45 minutes. By the second half, the need was completely reversed. Players were dealing with a “slushy” surface that eventually made the pitch unplayable. After a 20-minute pause, in which conditions didn’t improve enough for play to resume safely, officials called an end to the game.
Match Abandonment Details
The Swans had gone behind to Blackburn Rovers as they’d taken charge of the game when a Cantwell penalty kick placed them in the all-important position. From halftime on, the weather continued to deteriorate, resulting in more and more difficult playing conditions. Kieran McKenna, manager of Ipswich Town, took to social media to applaud the referee’s decision to end the game early.
“It was impossible to finish the game. From the start of the second half, the pitch was getting to the point of unplayable really.” – Kieran McKenna
After the abandonment, conversations about next steps immediately started. The EFL did an immense amount of consultation with both clubs and considered multiple alternatives in settling the case. Ultimately, they announced that the match would be replayed in full at Ewood Park on Tuesday, December 2, at 7:45 pm.
Reactions from Club Managers
The call to replay has not been met with open arms. Valerien Ismael, Blackburn Rovers’ manager, voiced strong objections to the EFL’s ruling. He painted the decision as “disgraceful,” noting that his team had a huge lead at the moment of walkout.
“I have to be careful with what I say; I don’t want to put myself in danger, but I will just make one statement: it’s a disgraceful decision.” – Valerien Ismael
Ismael stressed his concerns over the wider implications of this ruling for English football. He explained that he had the most heartfelt messages about the result from overseas, where people were so shocked and disappointed by the result.
“It’s really bad publicity for English football. I received a lot of messages from abroad… It just shows it’s not right.” – Valerien Ismael
McKenna stuck by his argument that although he agreed with stopping the game, he thought it was dealt with too late. He expressed his disappointment at the quality of the pitch and admitted that while it was perfectly playable to begin with, the surface quickly fell apart.
EFL’s Decision and Club Statements
The EFL’s decision to replay the match follows their recent precedents regarding abandoned fixtures and aims to maintain the integrity of league competition. The most votes from the stakeholders was to replay the match fully. In particular, 58% voted to continue from when it was stopped, 31% opted for Blackburn Rovers given a 1-0 victory.
In what seemed like retribution, Blackburn Rovers issued their own statement 24 hours later accompanying their disappointment with that outcome. To their credit, and despite immeasurable damage done by their departure, they acknowledged that their team enjoyed significant benefits. They wondered whether all those factors had been adequately taken into account.
“The board comprehensively considered all options available in accordance with the regulations alongside representations made by both clubs. It was ultimately decided by a majority that the fixture should be replayed in full.” – EFL
Blackburn Rovers released their own statement expressing disappointment with the outcome. They highlighted that their team held significant advantages at the time of abandonment and questioned whether such factors were adequately taken into account.
“While Blackburn Rovers respects the processes undertaken by the EFL…the club is extremely disappointed by the outcome.” – Blackburn Rovers
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