7 reasons why a referee can abandon an EFL match after Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town situation | OneFootball

The rules cover everything from safety scares to unfit surfaces

The recent abandonment of Blackburn Rovers’ Championship clash with Ipswich Town in the 80th minute due to a waterlogged pitch highlighted a rare but important reality.

Referees retain the ultimate authority to call a halt to matches in the EFL.

According to Premier League and EFL regulations, games can only be postponed or abandoned by the referee, governing bodies, or on police advice.

If a match is called off before kick-off, it is rescheduled. If it is abandoned after kick-off, the league board determines whether the fixture is replayed, completed from the abandonment point, or whether the score stands - taking into account the circumstances, time played, and whether fault lies with either club.

So, under what conditions can a referee bring proceedings to a premature end?

Football League World looked at seven key reasons according to the International Football Association Board, who are responsible for determining the laws of the game

Floodlight failures have occasionally plunged stadiums into darkness, forcing referees to abandon matches altogether.

In 1997, Derby County’s first game at Pride Park was cut short after the lights went out against Wimbledon.

Just months later, West Ham’s clash with Crystal Palace ended prematurely in similar circumstances, amid suspicions of deliberate interference by betting syndicates.

Although modern grounds have backup systems, visibility issues remain a valid reason for abandonment if they compromise fairness or player safety.

2 Objects thrown by spectators

While most instances of items being thrown onto the pitch cause only short stoppages, persistent or dangerous behaviour can bring a match to an end.

Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City have all staged protests involving throwing tennis balls on the pitch in recent seasons, but the majority of such occasions only cause a delay to play.

On the continent, Norway’s Rosenborg v Lillestrom match in 2023 was abandoned entirely after repeated interruptions, with flares, tennis balls and even fish cakes raining down from the stands.

When supporters invade the pitch and refuse to leave, officials are compelled to act.

Blackpool’s 2015 Championship fixture against Huddersfield was abandoned after hundreds of home fans staged a lengthy on-field protest against the Oyston family’s ownership, complete with a conga line.

More recently, Reading v Port Vale in 2023 was called off after 1,000 Royals fans staged an invasion over Dai Yongge's mismanagement.

With player, fan and steward safety at stake, a referee cannot allow a match to continue in such circumstances.

It may sound trivial, but damaged goalposts or crossbars can force abandonment if repairs cannot be made quickly.

At Lincoln City in 1970, goalkeeper Chic Brodie famously snapped the woodwork by swinging on the bar, causing a 45-minute delay before play resumed.

There is no record of it, however, causing a full abandonment in the professional game.

5

Public safety takes precedence over the spectacle.

In 2016, Manchester United’s Premier League match against Bournemouth was postponed after a suspicious package - later identified as a dummy bomb - was discovered at Old Trafford.

Sheffield United faced similar disruption in 1985 when a 2,200lb unexploded Second World War bomb was unearthed near Bramall Lane, leading to an evacuation and a three-day delay.

The most common reason for abandonment is the condition of the pitch. Torrential rain, snow, or ice can make surfaces unsafe or unplayable.

Blackburn’s abandoned fixture against Ipswich echoed Watford v Wigan in 2007, when waterlogging forced a restart from scratch 52 days later, and Rotherham v Cardiff in 2023, abandoned due to heavy rainfall.

7 A team falling below seven players

The Laws of the Game stipulate that a side must field at least seven players.

In 2002, Sheffield United dropped to six men against West Bromwich Albion after a spate of red cards and injuries, forcing the referee to call the game off.