Blackburn Want Ipswich Win After Abandoned Match – Ismael

Blackburn Deserve Ipswich Win After Abandonment, Says Ismael

Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael believes awarding his team three points from their abandoned Championship match against Ipswich Town would be the fairest decision the EFL could make.

The game, played at Portman Road, was called off in the 80th minute due to a waterlogged pitch. At the time of abandonment, Blackburn were leading 1-0 through a Todd Cantwell penalty, while Ipswich were down to 10 men after Jacob Greaves received a red card.

“We Were in Control” – Ismael Makes His Case

Speaking on the club’s official YouTube channel, Ismael said:

“We’ve got the right to want the three points because it’s the fair thing to do, especially when the opponent is down to 10.”

He added that data and match flow support Blackburn’s dominance after the red card, and argued that “11 versus 11 is another situation”, reinforcing that the context of the match matters.

What Do the Rules Say?

Under EFL and Premier League regulations, a match abandoned before the 90th minute can result in:

• Points awarded based on the score at abandonment,

• A partial replay, or

• A full replay.

The EFL Board considers multiple factors:

The scoreline,

Minutes played,

The cause of the abandonment, and

Whether any club or fans were at fault.

No party has been found at fault so far. The referee, Steve Martin, deemed the pitch unsafe and apologized to the managers for abandoning the match.

“A Grey Area That Threatens Integrity”

Ismael expressed concerns that the current system lacks clarity:

“It’s a grey area and it puts the integrity of football in danger. Everyone can speculate on any game or try to stop a match.”

He warned that speculation and influence could emerge if this incident isn’t handled properly, suggesting the outcome could set a precedent for future abandonments.

EFL Decision Coming Soon

The EFL has requested both clubs to make final representations by 16:00 BST on Wednesday. A final decision on the match outcome is expected by the end of the week.

In a statement, the EFL said:

“Once in receipt of the submissions, the matter will be discussed by the EFL board before the end of this week.”

It remains to be seen whether the match will be replayed, partially resumed, or Blackburn will be awarded the win.