EFL Orders Full Replay of Abandoned Blackburn Ipswich Match Amid Club Discontent

An English Football League Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch after 79 minutes, with Blackburn leading 1-0 and Ipswich reduced to 10 men. The EFL Board decided the match must be replayed in its entirety despite Blackburn's significant advantage at abandonment, including a red card against Ipswich and a penalty goal for Blackburn. Blackburn Rovers expressed disappointment with the decision, feeling it did not reflect the match circumstances and are considering an appeal. The decision was made after thorough consideration and follows recent precedents aimed at maintaining the competition's integrity by completing fixtures in full. Blackburn's manager had initially suggested awarding the win to his team would be fairest, but the Board's majority vote favored a full replay, with some board members abstaining from the vote. A date for the replay is yet to be confirmed, and the EFL plans to consult clubs on new guidelines for handling future match abandonments.