A big Championship clash has been called off just 20 minutes before kick off.
Hull City’s clash with Watford was postponed on Sunday afternoon less than half an hour before they were due to kick-off at the MKM Stadium at 3pm. In a statement, the home side said: “Hull City’s Sky Bet Championship match against Watford has been postponed due to player safety concerns.
“While the pitch is playable, areas surrounding the playing surface have been deemed unsafe. Although this has been constantly worked on, conditions haven’t improved and with temperatures continuing to fall, player safety cannot be guaranteed. More to follow.”
(Image: Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Sky Sports broadcast images of groundsmen at the stadium trying to thaw the pitch with a blow torch. However, despite these efforts, fans were left furious as a result of the game being called off at such short notice, with away fans who had made the 200 mile trip for the fixture left angry and out of pocket.
Responding to the announcement, one supporter wrote on X: “Fans have travelled three and a half hours, only for it to be called off 20 minutes before kick-off. Maybe work on the surface surrounding the pitch next time. Absolute joke of a club.”
Another fan said: “20 minutes before kick off. Just f****** got here.” And a third said: “You’re having a f****** laugh. THERE’S SOME ICE IN THE TECHNICAL AREAS. Just sit in the stands or stand back a little bit.”
Another supporter moaned: “Christ that’s poor, 15 minutes before kick off, it’s been cold for days lads, this is hardly a surprise weather front?” And a fifth posted: “What an absolute joke. Feel for the Watford fans spending hard earned money and coming all that way for a game to be called off 20 minutes before kick off is ridiculous.”
Two other Championship matches had already been scrapped as freezing cold weather continues to wreak havoc on English football this weekend. Sheffield United and Oxford United’s clash scheduled for 12pm was cancelled along with Portsmouth versus Ipswich, which was set for 3pm.
They are among numerous EFL fixtures to fall victim to the conditions, with League One and League Two matches also taking a hit. Two League One clashes already binned off were Doncaster versus Luton and Rotherham against Mansfield.
In League Two, nine fixtures were axed. Barnet vs Crewe, Barrow vs Bristol Rovers, Bromley vs Oldham Athletic, Colchester vs Accrington Stanley, Harrogate Town vs Swindon, Newport County vs Tranmere Rovers, Notts County vs Gillingham, Salford City vs Shrewsbury Town and Walsall vs Fleetwood Town have all been called off.
There’s still no word on when any of the postponed fixtures could be rearranged for at this stage, although there are plenty of midweek dates available in January, February, March and April.