Saturday’s game between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswichtown was abandoned with just 10 minutes left due to heavy rain at E-Wood Park. A yellow weather warning for the rain had already been issued and no pitch inspections had been conducted, but there was a monumental flood before kickoff. It was a game with little quality in the first half, and neither side found a breakthrough in the opening 45 minutes.
After the interval, visitors fell in number when Jacob Greaves was rejected due to Ohashiyuki’s clumsy final foul. A few minutes later they announced their goal that Todd Cantwell was firing Blackburn from the penalty spot. It came after Ipswich defender Darnell Farron carried the rover in the box.
As the game progressed, the rain continued and the ball struggled to bounce and roll on the flooded pitch. Ultimately, the judge ordered both players to be returned to their respective dressing rooms, which forced them to make a decision.
There was a long delay as ground staff at Ewood Park went on a pitch with the Forks in a desperate attempt to drain some of the standing water. However, the rain had fallen faster than it could be removed from the play field.
We saw many fans leave the stadium before it was confirmed that the game had been abandoned. A decision will be made in the future whether it will be played in full.
The stadium announcer told the remaining fans:
Following the announcement, Ipswich players walked to the away end, celebrating travel fans who had made their long journey from Suffolk.
Blackburn supporters will find it tough considering the timing of abandonment and the fact that they are the goal of good. However, the judges had no indication that the weather would not be alleviated and had little option but to stop the lawsuit.
Restaging the match definitely shows everything, suggesting that the FA guidelines need to be played completely.
Related rules include: “If a competitive match is not played or abandoned due to a cause that neither club has control over, it must be played in full on a date mutually agreed by the two clubs and approved by the competition.”
The results show Blackburn sitting 17th in the Championship table. He is number one in the same number of points as Ipswich, and is ranked number one by the goal difference.
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