The EFL’s Biggest Ever Controversy?

The EFL is always full of controversy, but nothing has sparked more debate than the result between Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town on Tuesday night. What began as an ordinary Championship fixture in September descended into a storm.

When Blackburn welcomed Ipswich back in September, the game had reached a dramatic stage. With roughly ten minutes left on the clock, Rovers were leading 1–0 and looked set to secure a valuable three points. Ipswich, reduced to ten men earlier in the second half, were struggling to mount any meaningful comeback. Momentum was pointing in the way of the home side with the crowd, and the conditions all leaned towards a Blackburn victory.

As Blackburn edged closer to three points, torrential rain began pouring down, turning the Ewood Park pitch into a swimming pool.

The ball had started floating, with puddles formed across key areas of play, and both managers were nervously glancing toward the officials. The referee made the decision to abandon the match.

Sky Sports saying the abandonment of Blackburn vs Ipswich in September was controversial 😂😂pic.twitter.com/BxHwQGBh0t

— EFL Hub (@eflhubuk) December 2, 2025

The abandonment was a rare occurrence, but not unheard of. Weather has always got in the way of football, both amateur and professional, but it was not that which took the headlines. It was the state of the game itself; with ten minutes left on the clock, the abandonment came at a moment when the game was in the palm of Blackburn's hand. Fans believed, understandably, that they had essentially already won.

Ipswich handed a lifeline

Fast forward 2 months, and both sets of fans had returned to Ewood Park, Ipswich full of optimism, while Blackburn left feeling anxious knowing a win was all but confirmed. The fixture would take place in normal conditions with 11v11 at 0-0.

The first half offered little from either team, with just one shot on target and no real chances, leaving Town fans regretting their second trip of the season to Ewood Park. Just moments before the half-time whistle, Ipswich had a heart-in-mouth moment as Azor Matusiwa found himself lucky to only receive a yellow after dragging down Ryoya Morishita despite being the last man.

The second half had more to offer as both teams looked to take their second opportunity for points in this fixture. Blackburn took the lead with just 15 minutes left on the clock, thanks to Andri Gudjohnsen's sixth goal of the season. The Icelandic international found himself free at the back post, nodding in from just inside the six-yard box.

Everything looked set in Blackburn's favour, similar to last time out, as they led with seconds to go. In the fourth minute of injury time, Blackburn had three points snatched away from them for the second time in this fixture as Sindre Walle Egeli picked up his first goal in English football. The substitute found himself just inside the box after a scrappy bit of play. Jack Clarke picked him out before Egeli calmly slotted it into the bottom left-hand corner.

Original game postponed with Blackburn winning 1-0.

Ipswich equalise at the death in the rearranged game.

All the while, Azor Matusiwa escaped a red card 🫣

Awful luck for Blackburn. pic.twitter.com/i4SL28l2KP

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) December 2, 2025

Sticking to the rules

On the other hand, Ipswich Town’s stance and the position of many neutrals lean heavily on the importance of consistent ruling. The rules are clear: if a match is abandoned, it is replayed in full unless league authorities order otherwise. No partial replays, no resuming from the previous minute, and no continuation with numerical imbalances.

From this point of view, Ipswich did not receive special treatment; they simply benefited from the regulations that have always been in place. The weather cannot be predicted, and officials must prioritise safety without factoring in the scoreline.

Had the referee not abandoned the match and an injury occurred due to unsafe conditions, the outrage may have been even greater, but from the opposite direction.

What this controversy has exposed is a potential flaw in the way the league handles late-game abandonments. In an era of advanced data and VAR in the higher leagues, many argue that restarting a match from scratch, especially when 80+ minutes have already been played, feels outdated and harsh, an opinion that many in Blackburn would agree with.

Remembered for the wrong reasons

For Blackburn, the sting of this replay may linger for the rest of the season, especially if they finish near key positions in the table. For Ipswich, the result will be viewed as a hard-earned point gained legitimately under established rules. For the EFL, it’s a reminder that even long-standing regulations can generate modern controversies.

For Egeli, his first goal in English football will be remembered for years by both sets of fans. For Blackburn, it's the goal they wish to forget, while Ipswich fans will see it as a key moment in their push for promotion.

Whether this truly is the most controversial outcome in EFL history is up for debate. But one thing is certain: fans will be talking about the abandoned 1–0, the ten men, the torrential rain, and the rewritten script for a long time to come.