When Sheffield Wednesday vs Blackburn Rovers could be replayed as EFL rules explained
The expectation is that Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers will have to replay their abandoned Championship clash in full.
Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers will be tasked with mutually agreeing a new date to replay their Championship clash at Ewood Park after Saturday’s meeting was abandoned due to the weather.
The Owls’ trip to Lancashire was halted with around 60 minutes on the clock after torrential rain meant the playing surface became unplayable. Referee Ruebyn Ricardo was forced to take the players off, stopping play for ten minutes.
Despite the best efforts of the Rovers ground staff, the game was unable to resume, meaning it became the second Championship fixture to be abandoned at Ewood Park this season due to the weather.
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Although no decision has been confirmed at the time of writing, the expectation is that Wednesday’s clash with Rovers will have to be replayed in full. Blackburn’s abandoned clash with Ipswich Town in September was replayed in its entirety as recently as last Tuesday night.
The incident will be subject to English Football League (EFL) processes in-line with the relevant regulations, and both Blackburn and the Owls will be kept abreast of developments.
Rule 29.1 of the EFL regulations states: “In the event of a fixture postponement no matter the cause, the League will decide the new date on which the fixture is to be played following consultation with both Clubs.”
Clubs will be asked to try and mutually agree new date for game to be replayed
Within the EFL guidance, the regulations say “the League will ask the Clubs to mutually agree a date in the first instance”. However, if the clubs are unable to mutually agree a new date, the EFL will take various factors into account when selecting a new date for the clash to be replayed.
Additionally, rule 29.2 states: “Notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation 29.1, The League reserves the right at any time to reschedule a League match after consultation with and consideration of representations from the Clubs involved.”
Although official confirmation of exactly what will happen is yet to filter through, a glance at Rovers’ and Wednesday’s respective calendars suggest the earliest they could replay Saturday’s abandoned clash is the week commencing January 12 which follows on from the FA Cup third round weekend.
Both clubs’ schedules are already jam-packed between now and FA Cup third round weekend, with not enough room in the calendar to squeeze in a midweek rearrangement beforehand. Either Tuesday, January 13 or Wednesday, January 14, for example, could be the first potential dates that suit both teams, but it will rest on when their respective FA Cup third round ties are scheduled for.
The draw for the third round of the FA Cup will take place on Monday evening, and confirmation of when ties will be played should be confirmed later in the week.
Should January 13 or 14 not suit either club, another window of opportunity may present itself in the final week of January. A full slate of League One and League Two action is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 27, meaning the EFL could look at that date to stage a Championship fixture.