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Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town still don’t know what will come of their abandoned game. But, the EFL Board deciding on the matter has been assembled.
The clash between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon was plunged into chaos thanks to torrential rain in Lancashire.
With the score at 1-0 to Blackburn thanks to a Todd Cantwell penalty, and Ipswich down to ten men, you’d be forgiven for thinking it would be harsh to make Rovers replay the full game given they were ten minutes away from a win.
Top figures in the game have urged the EFL Board to call in favour of awarding Blackburn all three points. But, sadly, football’s stringent rule book doesn’t work that easily.
EFL Board to make decision on Blackburn Rovers vs Ipswich Town replay
It was initially thought the EFL Board would make a decision on Monday. That didn’t end up being the case, though. It is now thought those making the call will take their time, with no actual deadline in place.
The EFL Board considering the matter consists of ten directors, including direct representatives of the Championship. Rick Parry is the chair while Trevor Birch is the chief executive of the board. They’re joined by non-executive directors Caroline Artis and Justine Roberts.
Meanwhile, club representatives Peter Ridsdale (Preston North End), Neil Bausor (Middlesbrough), Zoe Webber (Norwich), Liam Scully (Lincoln), Julian Tagg (Exeter), and Charles Grant (Crewe) are also involved.
Whether Blackburn fans will be happy that a Preston North End man is involved in their fate is another matter. But, we’re sure Ridsdale would be impartial as always.
Both Ipswich and Blackburn made their cases to the EFL Board on Monday as to what they feel should be the outcome. However, there is not expected to be any rush in deciding the fairest route forward.
Blackburn Rovers will be fired up if they’re forced into full replay
While Jeff Stelling believes Blackburn should get the three points, that is looking unlikely. Indeed, the best Rovers can hope for is to play the remainder of the game with a one-goal, one-man advantage.
Even that would be unprecedented, though. Still, if Blackburn have to play the game from scratch, it would give Valerien Ismael’s men incredible motivation to get the job done again.
Rovers desperately needed a positive result at home after back-to-back defeats at Ewood Park. They dominated the game against Ipswich, and it will be painful to go again.
But, the fans will be there behind them, while you’d imagine some Ipswich fans might avoid a repeat trip. All of these factors add up to a home win in our minds, but you just never know with football.