EFL Considers Options for Blackburn Rovers vs Ipswich Town Match

The English Football League (EFL) has issued an update regarding the abandonment of the match between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town, which took place on September 30, 2023. The match was halted in the 80th minute due to heavy rain at Ewood Park, with Blackburn leading 1-0 and enjoying a one-man advantage following the dismissal of Ipswich’s Jacob Greaves. As the situation stands, the EFL is evaluating three potential outcomes for the match.

The options under consideration include awarding all three points to Blackburn, replaying the match from the start with a score of 0-0, or resuming play from the 80th minute. The EFL has indicated that a resolution could be reached as soon as next week, following a deadline set for both clubs to submit their representations by 16:00 on Wednesday.

In a statement on their official communications platform, the EFL noted, “Following the abandonment of the Sky Bet Championship fixture between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town, the two Clubs were given a deadline of 4pm [Wednesday] to make any final representations to the League. Once in receipt of the submissions, the matter will be discussed by the EFL Board before the end of this week, with the outcome to be confirmed shortly thereafter.”

Valerien Ismael, the manager of Blackburn Rovers, has expressed his concerns regarding the fairness of restarting the match from the beginning. He believes that given the current circumstances, it would be unjust for his team to lose their goal advantage and the numerical edge. Ismael is advocating for Blackburn to be awarded the three points but has also shown willingness to consider resuming the game from the 80th minute.

Both Blackburn and Ipswich currently sit on six points from their opening five matches in the season. This match presents a significant opportunity for either team to climb to 11th place in the table, emphasizing the stakes involved in the EFL’s upcoming decision.

The EFL faces a challenging task in reaching a resolution that satisfies both clubs. If they choose to replay the match, Blackburn will have to demonstrate their capability to secure a win again, while Ipswich could see a fortunate reprieve, particularly for Greaves if his red card is effectively nullified. Furthermore, the impact of the torrential rain on gameplay is a factor that both clubs must consider when the EFL announces its final judgement.

As the situation develops, both teams await the league’s decision, knowing that the outcome will have significant implications for their respective campaigns.