Blackburn Rovers 1 v 1 Ipswich Town
EFL Championship
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025 Kick-off 19:45

Ismael: Terrible Decision, Maybe It's Because They're a Former Premier League Club
Tuesday, 2nd Dec 2025 23:44

Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael unleashed a furious attack on official Oliver Langford and Championship officials in general following the 1-1 draw with the Blues at Ewood Park.

The Frenchman, who had been angered by the EFL’s decision to restage the fixture following its abandonment in September with his side 1-0 in front against 10-men Town, was fuming at experienced official Langford showing Town midfielder Azor Matusiwa a yellow rather than a red card for tripping Ryoya Morishita when the Japanese international was breaking towards goal, insinuating bias towards the Blues as a relegated Premier League club.

“I am heartbroken for the boys,” Ismael said. “It was a much better performance than the previous one. Very strong, pressed well, we forced a lot of mistakes. Great first half, second half solid. We got players back and we saw straight away the difference in our game.

“We took the lead and at the end we conceded the goal again, so that’s very painful. Normally, we should talk about three points tonight, to enjoy it, the connection with the fans was really good, but tonight I can’t not talk about the referee.

“Now, enough is enough. We have a list of all the decisions against us this season. The red card is a disgrace. It’s terrible, I can’t accept that.

“It's a penalty on Yuki [Ohashi] and the last situation it’s a corner for us again. The standard from the referees in the Championship is terrible.

“The team fighting to get promoted invests a lot of money to keep a very nice Championship, to play football. And every game, every three days it’s always the same with the decisions, the standard is really, really poor.

“It is unacceptable when I see the list of the decision-making against us. Sometimes it can happen, one or two decisions, I didn’t say anything. But now, that one with the red card I think is hopeless.

“Maybe it’s because it’s a former Premier League club and wanted to help them because nobody can understand.

“This is a terrible decision and that’s why I have to talk about it tonight. It’s very disgraceful to see that type of performance because nobody can understand and follow the decision-making from the referee.”

Ismael brought a list of refereeing infractions to his post-match press conference, which he went through.

"No penalty West Brom, no penalty [Andri] Gudjohnsen Watford. Charlton handball, no penalty. Swansea, no penalty. Preston, no red card on [Ben] Whiteman. No penalty on Pape [Gueye]. Wrexham, no foul by [Ryan] Hedges. Ipswich, clear red card Matusiwa and a penalty on Yuki.

“It’s simple like that. They have to do their job. Now it’s enough, it’s just a little bit too much. If you get 10 per cent of that, it’s maybe four points for us. At some point, enough is enough.

“They say we have to talk after the game, but every time they say the same thing - ’I didn’t see anything' or ‘Sorry, I made a mistake’. That’s it always, sorry, sorry. What we want is to raise the standard, raise the quality on the pitch.

“We have to perform. The manager, the players, everyone at a football club has to perform.

“And the referee just has needs perform now because it can’t stay like this. The red card today for me, enough is enough.”

He added:“You know the rules why it can’t be a red card - if the chance is not clear to score a goal, then you give a yellow card.

“But on that one there is no excuse. He’s the last man, he has a clear chance to score a goal, so what is the explanation? It would be interesting. Maybe the referee should come in front of you guys and explain his decision.”

Photo: TWTD

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hatch added 23:50 - Dec 2 I’d say cry me a river but that would just see more games abandoned there.
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Gforce added 23:57 - Dec 2 He's got a point.
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rickw added 00:02 - Dec 3 I don't know why he's complaining - we even let them be 1-0 after 80 mins again!!
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Beattiesballbag added 00:08 - Dec 3 Heart broken for the boy's, can't blame him, they looked more like the team that had just come down from the Prem.
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melbs_itfc added 00:12 - Dec 3 FA disciplinary charge incoming for Mr Ismael I would have thought. He is basically saying it is corruption, which is crossing the line.
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howsey51 added 00:18 - Dec 3 decisions went against them but they were not good either. Any competent team would have put our lot to the sword out there given the performance regardless of referring decisions (like oxford did)
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hyperbrit added 00:19 - Dec 3 Corruption you say? What else is new? Corruption is epidemic these days everywhere we look!
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armchaircritic59 added 00:29 - Dec 3

I very much doubt it's because we were in the PL last season Ismael, as non of the other incidents you described involved a former PL club from last season. The point about refs is well made in general though. If you are right about all or most of those decisions, then the chances are, things will even themselves out over the next few months. As for us, we've just played our second " get out of jail card " at Ewood Park this sesaon.

grow_our_own added 00:33 - Dec 3 Which was a “terrible decision”, that goal kick or the one immediately before to award Blackburn a corner that clearly came off a Blackburn player?
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tractor_lady added 00:55 - Dec 3 wow, we were not good and i can understand his frustration but my goodness he sprouts some absolute rubbish, would hate to have a moan minny like that as our manager
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Bluemike31 added 05:31 - Dec 3 The guy is spot on, we got the decisions, they were robbed.
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RIPbobby added 06:14 - Dec 3

Some of what he says I concur with. But he should look at the match before the our first yellow, they had done 5 or 6 professional fouls and had nothing. Our first one was a yellow. I still think their player stood in a crucifix position and clearly controlled it with his arm 2 or 3 minutes before we equalised.

I can't remember the point he is making about a penalty to them? So not sure on that. Their in house commentary team certainly didn't make a fuss about not getting one.

After the first 30 minutes Blackburn were much the better side and they deserved to win. We looked tired and bereft of ideas. We've not been great lately, but that was very lousy. Difficult to see our team ever playing that bad again. Feel for Blackburn. Certainly feel for their manager, but I feel he has a ban coming his way. They played pretty decent against us. Unfair result on them.

cardinaldom88 added 06:35 - Dec 3

He has a point about the standard of refereeing, in a professional sport it needs to be of a high standard. For instance, the decision by the ref not to book the Watford player at Portman Road for what should have been a second bookable offence.

However, he cannot say that it is aimed primarily at Blackburn and I sense that his rant is more in frustration at conceding the late goal and dropping two valuable points.

number8 added 06:38 - Dec 3 Incoming fine!! Enjoy!
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Bluewhiteboy added 07:02 - Dec 3 We should have had a red but in fairness they weren't very good either so id be more worried about relegation if I was he.
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BangaloreBlues added 07:16 - Dec 3 Looked a red card all day.
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ArnieM added 07:23 - Dec 3 Interesting thread view us as a PL club. This squad wasnt in the PL, and we couldn't be further from a PL standard....
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Saxonblue74 added 07:34 - Dec 3 I'd focus your attention more on your team, that will be one of the worst performances you will see from a visiting team to Ewood Park this season, and you failed to beat them. He'll be in a bit of bother for those comments, you don't get away with suggesting bias from the referee.
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deano85 added 07:38 - Dec 3 He does realise, that this is exactly the reason the match should be replayed, we could have scored anytime up to the 94th minute the first time too... Match isnt over till its over
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:52 - Dec 3 Managers who moan about decisions post match do not impress me. They usually have a very one-sided view and forget about all the decisions that perhaps went in their favour. You were the better team, but you didn't get it over the line. Tough!
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Dissboyitfc added 07:54 - Dec 3 Gforce yes he's got a point so did we, we move on! However what it does prove is that restaging the game was the correct decision because it aint over until its over, we could have also equalised in the previous game!
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SpiritOfJohn added 07:56 - Dec 3

Matusiwa is great at defending in front of our defence, but why are we leaving him exposed as the last man when we have an attacking set piece? He doesn't have the pace for that role. Regarding the 'red' card, I don't think the ref could be sure it was a deliberate foul and Davis would have caught the Blackburn man before he got near the goal so a yellow seemed the right call.

Dissboyitfc added 08:01 - Dec 3 rickw perhaps thats why we were so bad, to allow them to get to 1-0 with 10 plus time added left and to prove a point and we even tried to go down to 10 men, very accommodating i think!
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backwaywhen added 08:06 - Dec 3 Ref to game being replayed , our goal in the last seconds of the game is exactly why that game had to be played again …..we rest our case your honour.
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jas0999 added 08:12 - Dec 3 They deserved to win. No doubt. He was also the better manager - once again an opposition manager having far too much for McKenna.
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