Decision to replay Ipswich game 'disgrace' - Ismael
Briefly

Decision to replay Ipswich game 'disgrace' - Ismael
"I've received lots of messages from abroad, where I've worked, from sporting directors and players and it is the same reaction - they are shocked,"
"It's a disgraceful decision, it's bad publicity for English football."
"When you receive that many messages from people around the world and they are all shocked it means something is wrong,"
"The decision follows recent precedents relating to abandoned fixtures and is intended to uphold the integrity of the league competition which should, wherever possible, be based on a complete set of fixtures played to a conclusion on the day. The board recognised that this was an incredibly difficult decision and agreed to consult clubs on the best approach to the development of new guidance to be considered in the event of a match abandonment."
Blackburn led 1-0 against ten-man Ipswich when heavy rain made the Ewood Park pitch unplayable and the Championship match was abandoned in the 79th minute. The EFL board voted by majority to replay the fixture in full rather than resume, citing precedents and the principle that league competition should be based on complete fixtures concluded on the day. Manager Valerien Ismael described the verdict as disgraceful and bad publicity, reporting shocked reactions from contacts abroad. Blackburn expressed extreme disappointment. The EFL said the board would consult clubs on new guidance and no replay date has been set.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
[
|
]