The abandoned match between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town was replayed on Tuesday night, with Valerian Ismael not holding back on his thoughts on the refereeing performance
All you need to know about the controversy surrounding the Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town…
- The original match abandonment: The initial fixture was controversially abandoned in the 79th minute due to a waterlogged pitch caused by sustained, heavy rainfall. At the time of stoppage, Blackburn held a significant advantage, leading 1-0 and playing against a ten-man Ipswich side.
- The EFL’s decision to replay: The EFL Board subsequently determined that the entire fixture must be replayed in full, citing a need to uphold the integrity of the League competition. This decision was ultimately reached by a majority vote after considering regulations and submissions from both clubs.
- Blackburn’s official response: Blackburn Rovers publicly stated they were “extremely disappointed” by the outcome, arguing the decision failed to acknowledge the significant advantage they held at the time of abandonment. The club felt the ruling did not accurately reflect the circumstances on the day and considered appealing the decision.
- The manager’s subsequent outburst: Following the replayed match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, on Tuesday, 2 December, Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael launched an astonishing, furious public attack on the standard of EFL Championship referees. His outburst came after his team conceded a painful 94th-minute equaliser, snatching away a potential three points.
- Allegations of bias: Ismael went so far as to suggest a potential refereeing bias towards certain clubs, questioning if officials were trying to aid a “former Premier League club.” He stressed that the standard of officiating is unacceptable given the high investment made by teams competing for promotion.
- Specific on-field grievances: The manager’s central point of rage was the failure to issue a clear red card to an Ipswich player for a proposed last-man challenge. He also cited other critical errors, including a missed penalty and a final decision that should have resulted in a corner kick.
- Cumulative poor decisions: Ismael revealed that the club has compiled a comprehensive list of all the bad decisions made against them throughout the current season. He estimated that these cumulative refereeing errors have already cost Blackburn around four crucial points in the league standings.
- Demand for accountability: The manager passionately demanded that referees must be held to the same high performance standards as the players and club staff. He insisted that simple apologies like “Sorry I made a mistake” are no longer sufficient to address the persistent poor quality of decision-making.
- READ MORE: Manager launches astonishing attack on referees after latest controversy – ‘Enough is enough’
