Blackburn Rovers Seek Fair Resolution After Abandoned Match Against Ipswich Town

Blackburn Rovers Seek Fair Resolution After Abandoned Match Against Ipswich Town

Blackburn Rovers Seek Fair Resolution After Abandoned Match Against Ipswich Town

Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael has stated that awarding his team three points from the abandoned Championship match against Ipswich Town would be the "fairest course of action."

Ismael's team was leading 1-0, thanks to a second-half penalty scored by Todd Cantwell, when the match was halted due to heavy rainfall. Ipswich was already at a disadvantage, playing with ten men after Jacob Greaves received a red card.

The referee, Steve Martin, called the players off the field after 80 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch, and the English Football League (EFL) is yet to decide whether the match will be replayed in full.

A decision is expected by the end of this week.

In an interview on the club's YouTube channel, Ismael emphasized, "We have the right to request the three points because it’s the fair thing to do, especially given that the opponent was down to ten men. If it were eleven versus eleven, the situation would be different. We were clearly in a stronger position, and the data indicates we had the momentum since the red card."

According to the regulations, a match can only be postponed or abandoned with the consent of the referee, authorities, or police order. If a Premier League or EFL match is abandoned after kick-off but before 90 minutes, the outcome can be determined in several ways:

It may be counted as a completed match, with points awarded based on the score at the time of abandonment.

It may be replayed partially or in its entirety.

The Premier League and EFL boards will decide based on the score, minutes played, and the reason for the abandonment, as well as any blame assigned to the club or its supporters.

Ismael clarified that the decision to halt the game was beyond his control, stating, "I never agreed to stop the game. The referee made it clear that he had to abandon it. The pitch was unplayable, and he apologized. I had no say in the matter because the decision was already made."

Additionally, Ismael expressed concerns about the current regulations, describing them as a "grey area" that could undermine the integrity of football. He remarked, "This is a widespread issue that poses a serious problem. There is room for speculation and influence, and it is challenging to predict the outcome. Everyone must take this matter seriously, as it could set a significant precedent."

In a statement, the EFL noted that both clubs have until 16:00 BST on Wednesday to submit any final representations to the league. "Once we receive the submissions, the matter will be discussed by the EFL board by the end of this week, with the outcome communicated shortly thereafter," the statement concluded.

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