Watford have criticised the decision to call off their Championship match at Hull 18 minutes before kick-off on Sunday – and have claimed they did not agree to the postponement.
The referee, Anthony Backhouse, called the game off due to safety concerns over areas surrounding the pitch while the players were already warming up. The MKM Stadium clash was one of three second-tier fixtures to fall by the wayside due to frozen pitches, while 14 games across Leagues One and Two were also postponed.
Hull said in a statement that the postponement was “agreed by all parties”, but Watford insisted they had been prepared to play the game and that the decision was made without their consent.
“We reiterate we were ready and willing to play after the pitch was passed fit by the referee,” Watford said in a statement. “We remain disappointed by the decision to postpone and by how the decision was reached. We did not agree to the postponement.”
In an earlier post on X, the club said: “While player safety is paramount, we are really disappointed the game has been postponed as we were ready to play. The decision to postpone the fixture so close to kick-off is regrettable and we fully share the frustration of our supporters.”
Hull’s statement said: “While the pitch was playable and had been passed by the referee, areas immediately surrounding the playing surface were deemed unsafe and the decision to postpone the game was agreed by all parties.
“We fully understand the frustration of supporters regarding the timing of the decision,” the statement continued. “Every effort was made to fulfil the fixture, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and disappointment caused.”
Championship
Hull City v Watford
Portsmouth v Ipswich
Sheffield United v Oxford
League One
Doncaster v Luton
Port Vale v Barnsley
Rotherham v Mansfield
Stevenage v Leyton Orient
League Two
Barnet v Crewe
Barrow v Bristol Rovers
Bromley v Oldham
Cambridge v Grimsby
Colchester v Accrington
Harrogate v Swindon
Newport v Tranmere
Notts County v Gillingham
Salford v Shrewsbury
Walsall v Fleetwood
Sheffield United’s Championship meeting with Oxford United and Portsmouth’s clash with Ipswich at Fratton Park were also called off. The Blades said the match referee called off their fixture after a pitch inspection at Bramall Lane due to concerns over player safety. Pompey’s pitch was also deemed unplayable after an 11am inspection.
In League One, Doncaster’s home match against Luton, Rotherham’s clash with Mansfield, Barnsley’s trip to Port Vale and Stevenage’s match against Leyton Orient were called off.
In League Two, the matches at Barnet, Barrow, Bromley, Cambridge United, Colchester, Harrogate, Newport County, Notts County, Salford and Walsall were also postponed.
