Former Crystal Palace chairman and talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has given his verdict on the abandoned Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town – and the EFL’s decision appears to align with his stance.
The fixture at Ewood Park was dramatically halted last weekend after torrential rain left the pitch waterlogged. Blackburn had taken control of the game: Ipswich went down to 10 men early in the second half when Jacob Greaves was sent off for denying Yuki Ohashi a clear goalscoring opportunity, and Todd Cantwell converted the resulting penalty to put Rovers 1-0 up.
With just 10 minutes remaining, referee Stephen Martin ushered both sets of players off as conditions deteriorated further, eventually calling the game off.
Controversy over what happens next
Rovers boss Valérien Ismaël argued afterwards that the “fair” outcome would be to award his side the win, stressing that his team were dominant following the red card and that data supported their momentum. Blackburn were also open to the idea of resuming only the final minutes against 10 men.
Ipswich, however, pushed for a complete restart with both teams at full strength, leaving the EFL with a major decision to make. According to journalist Alan Nixon, the governing body has opted to order a full replay — a significant blow to Blackburn, who believed they had done enough to claim three points.
Jordan: rules must be clear-cut
Speaking on talkSPORT, Jordan acknowledged Rovers’ frustration but insisted replaying the match in full was the only viable option.
“Well, it doesn’t require Valérien’s agreement – it’s not his decision,” Jordan said. “There’s precedent for this. In 1997, Blackburn were beating Wimbledon 2-0 when the game was abandoned because of weather, and it had to be replayed.”
He added: “Yes, it feels unfair when you’re leading 1-0 against 10 men with momentum, but the rules have to be black and white. This was a no-fault abandonment — nobody’s to blame — and when that happens, the answer should always be simple: replay the match. The game wasn’t completed.”
Jordan also dismissed arguments that Ipswich were unlikely to level the score. “We see goals in stoppage time all the time. There’s no guarantee. You can’t be half-pregnant — the game isn’t finished until it’s finished. Handing out results from incomplete fixtures sets a dangerous precedent.”
Integrity over frustration
From Blackburn’s perspective, the decision will sting. They had control, a numerical advantage, and looked on course for their first home win of the season. But as Jordan highlighted, sporting integrity demands a reset.
With the EFL siding with Ipswich’s position, the fixture will now be replayed from scratch. While Rovers will feel hard done by, the ruling reinforces the principle that results can only be settled on the pitch — and only once a match has been completed.