Hull City vs Watford: Last-Minute Postponement Sparks Championship Controversy

Dramatic Late Postponement at MKM Stadium

Watford have criticised the decision to call off their Championship match at Hull 18 minutes before kick-off on Sunday and claimed they did not agree to the postponement. The highly anticipated clash between two promotion-chasing sides descended into chaos as referee Anthony Backhouse had called the game off, over concerns about the safety of the players.

Though the MKM Stadium pitch was deemed playable, there were frozen areas around the side of the pitch that were deemed too dangerous for the game to take place. Farcically, it means a stadium full of supporters – including Watford fans who had travelled the best part of 200 miles – were informed with less than 15 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time.

Importance of the Fixture

The match held significant importance in the Championship promotion race. Currently, Hull City rank 5th, while Watford hold 4th position, with these two clubs sit in fifth and fourth place respectively and are within three points of second position. Both teams have been in excellent form, making this fixture crucial for their automatic promotion aspirations.

Conflicting Statements Fuel Controversy

The postponement sparked immediate controversy between the two clubs. Hull City said in a statement that ‘the decision to postpone the game was agreed by all parties’. However, Watford strongly disputed this claim. ‘We reiterate we were ready and willing to play after the pitch was passed fit by the referee,’ Watford said in a statement.

It is understood that referee Anthony Backhouse deemed the pitch fit to play, before a Hull-led decision that the surrounding areas were too dangerous led to the call to postpone the game at extremely short notice. Ground staff had attempted to remedy the situation, with efforts being made by ground staff to melt some of the affected areas.

EFL Investigation and Future Implications

The EFL will ask Hull City and Watford for their observations after the game between the two teams was postponed just 18 minutes before kick-off on Sunday afternoon. The Watford Observer has been in touch with the governing body, who will hear both clubs’ perspectives this week.

The postponement was part of a wider pattern of weather-related cancellations across English football. The MKM Stadium clash was one of three second tier fixtures to fall by the wayside due to frozen pitches while 14 games in Leagues One and Two were also postponed.

What This Means for Supporters

A new date will be announced in due course and match tickets will remain valid for the rearranged fixture. However, the timing of the postponement raises serious questions about planning and communication procedures. The incident highlights the challenges football clubs face during winter conditions and the delicate balance between player safety and fulfilling fixtures for paying supporters who have made considerable travel arrangements.