The EFL’s decision on Saturday’s abandoned Championship game between the Blues and Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park won’t come today, TWTD understands.

The match was called to an early halt in the 80th minute by referee Stephen Martin with the scoreline 1-0 to the home side with Town down to 10 men following Jacob Greaves’s dismissal for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Heavy rain had impacted the game throughout with the ball slowed down by areas of standing water from the start. By the time the players were taken off, passing had become impossible and players were leaving a wake behind them when they slid in to make a challenge.

An EFL statement released after the match read: “The board will consider what action is to be taken as a result of the abandonment, in line with EFL regulations.”

The three possible options are the result standing as it was when the game was curtailed, playing the final 10 minutes plus injury time at a later date or restaging the match entirely.

Precedent suggests the latter is most likely outcome, as does FA rule 20(E)(iii) which states: “In the event of a competition match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither club has control, it should be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by the two clubs and approved by the competition.”

Blackburn have come under fire for their pitch having become unplayable, however, two other matches in the area, AFC Fylde’s game against Leamington and Southport hosting Peterborough Sports, both in the National League North, were also abandoned and Rochdale’s fixture with Southend was postponed.

Photo: IMAGO/Pro Sports Images via Reuters Connect

scooby added 22:23 - Sep 22 Perhaps if all our games had finished at 80 mins last season, we may have stayed up
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fifeblue added 22:43 - Sep 22 Please learn how to use the word 'however' properly.
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musicman added 22:45 - Sep 22 Just go with the FA rules. Replay 90 mins
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Monarch_Blue added 23:33 - Sep 22 A great deal of ferral nonsense being posted on this topic. Under Regulation EFL 34.2: “Any league match which from any cause whatever falls short of 90 minutes’ duration may be ordered to count as a completed fixture or be replayed in full or in part on whatever terms and conditions the Board shall in their absolute discretion determine…” It is up to the EFL Board to decide what shall happen, and if they want to take their time in reaching the correct decision .....then so be it! After all this is only Round 6 not Round 46!

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armchaircritic59 added 00:30 - Sep 23 Yes Monarch Blue, it's a hugely tricky decision, to replay it in full as if it was the first time, to replay it under other circumstances, such as we go down to 10 men after 49 minutes, ( just an example, not saying that's going to be an option ), or to just award Blackburn 3 points, and there should be no representation from either club, that's nonsense. And I'm assuming no one making the decision is even insane enough to contemplate sending us up there to play a 20/25 minute match with 10 men, starting at 1-0 to Blackburn! That decision should take all of 5 minutes if that, it isn't heart surgery.

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armchaircritic59 added 00:59 - Sep 23 Oh and while I'm at it, someone should fine the Venky's. They might be ok at running a Poultry/Pharmaceutical company, but they've not got a clue about football ( or drainage ). You can probably ask Blackburn fans for confirmation!
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