The EFL have confirmed the timeline of events that led to Nottingham Forest’s Championship game with Reading being called off.
Referee Geoff Eltringham made the decision shortly after lunchtime to postpone the City Ground clash due to a waterlogged pitch, following heavy rain in West Bridgford over the last few hours.
The club had concerns on Friday night, that following a day of heavy rain, certain areas of the pitch were in trouble, though groundstaff did their utmost to get the near sell-out game on.
An inspection was then conducted at 11am, according to the EFL, and while 80-percent of the pitch was playable, a substantial area of it wasn’t and then the situation at no point improved despite the club's best efforts.
Another look at the pitch happened shortly after midday, when Eltringham and his team of officials in conjunction with both clubs, decided the fixture could not go ahead with safety of the players of paramount importance.
“Last night they (the club) had indications but were working hard and remained hopeful that the game would be on,” an EFL spokesperson told Nottinghamshire Live.
“They had a pitch inspection at 11am and 80 percent of the pitch was fine, but 20 percent was pretty unplayable.
“Forest’s groundstaff kept working hard to try and make it playable, and both teams decided at 12:15pm there would be a final check.
“In between the 11am and 12:15pm check, the groundstaff were trying to get it playable, but then at 12:15pm, the pitch was still 80 percent and 20 percent – at that point, both teams (with the referee) agreed to call the game off.
“From the referee’s point of view, that’s what happened in the lead up to the game being called off due to the weather, unfortunately.
“Between the referee and the two clubs, the decision was made to call the game off.”
A new date for the fixture has yet to be confirmed, and Nottinghamshire Live understands the EFL will be in discussions with both clubs, and those others that have suffered postponements across the divisions in the coming days.
