Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael reacts to the EFL Board’s ruling of the abandoned Ipswich game

Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael reacts to the EFL Board’s ruling of the abandoned Ipswich game having to be replayed in full.

He called the decision “disgraceful” and damaging to English football’s reputation, noting there has been widespread shock among international colleagues and spoke of the need for new guidelines due to the decision’s poor timing and handling.

Ismael urged his players to focus on resilience and mental strength, maintaining that their on-pitch performance—scoring and not conceding—remains a positive.

The club is assessing options to defend its interests, but Ismael stressed controlling emotions and preparing for the next game.

🗣️ Valérien Ismaël’s reaction to the EFL Board ruling that the Ipswich Town game will be replayed in full.#ROVvIPS | #Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/NKvE2qgqAz

— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) September 26, 2025

He said: “I have to be careful with what I said. I don’t want to put myself in danger as well. Just make one statement, that it’s a disgraceful decision.

“It’s a really bad publicity for the English football. I receive a lot of messages from abroad, where I worked. Lot of people, different people, sporting directors, CEO, players, colleagues, managers, and everyone was shocked with that decision.

“So it just shows that it’s not right. You just need to deal with the situation now. We keep all the options open, what is the next step, but this is the case for the board.

“I say to the players, it doesn’t change anything with our performance we made on the pitch.

“We’ve scored a goal, we didn’t concede a goal, and this is what I want to keep in my mind for the players and we have to move on.

“So now actually for us is dealing with adversity and to deal with adversity you need to show resilience, mental strength, togetherness and to stay connected is as simple like that but for sure everyone I think had a bad feeling after that decision.”

Asked how hurt are the players because they work so hard to put themselves in that position in the game, he responded: “Yes, you can imagine how is the feeling, I think for everyone, as I say now, for sure, we need to let the feeling goes on and to talk about, to think about, but at some point, we need to be focused on the next game.

“He’s coming quickly around the corner and even the decision, we receive the decision, the timing to receive the decision as well. So when you have a full week to make a decision and you get the decision that late at the end.

“It just shows that it’s urgent to get new guidelines um because it’s completely wrong how the thing goes right now.”

Questioned if there been discussions over what options are available to the football club going forward, he said: “Well, I think the club needs to assess the situation to keep the option open, what is the best option. We have to defend the interests of the club, but as I say now, it’s another part.

“Our part was done last week with the game, after that we knew it’s out of our control. Now the only thing we can control is our emotion and our performance for the game tomorrow.”

Blackburn hit back at the EFL’s decision on the abandoned game against Ipswich

Here’s what fans had to say as the Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael reacts to the EFL Board’s ruling of the abandoned Ipswich game…

@nathrover1985: don’t agree at all with the decision, to wipe out the advantages we earned over 80 mins is criminal. However his right, it’s out of our control and have to get on with it now. What will happen will happen. Onto Charlton and hopefully 3 points, all about how we react now

@Alby778500: @EFL bottled it. Hope this just spurs us on and be even more determined in our next run of games.

@FyldeCoastRover: Fair fucks to VI coming out and being as honest as he can. Some managers would just dance around the topic and not give a clear thought

@Chapo5589: Bloke can say whatever he fucking wants but if he was in our position he would want a replay in full as would every other club in the EFL!!! End of conversation! #itfc

@_tinie_turner: All the love we gave Ipswich when Szmodics got his move to the prem ‘Look after him for us’ & now we add them to the random teams that hate us, all because of the stadium being rudely built next to a river 🤣

@Craig_ITFC: I don’t think anyone at ITFC hates BRFC – but the pitch was unplayable and based on previous precedence, replaying in full was always going to be the only option. Many over teams have stadiums built next to rivers – you just need to invest and sort the drainage out.

@MartinMJ22: I love this. Love how honest and open he is. The EFL are a joke. Onwards and upwards now.

@MrJoshBarber: If only Blackburn has put this much investment into there pitch drainage 😢 #itfc #rovers

@jlewsto: hahahahahahahahaha. not even watched it and I know it’s going to be incredible.

s0m_g4dnr: He’s done well actually I think he had a really harsh welcome to the club and people were too quick to judge… (me included) but fair play to him he’s doing alright.

tom_gudgeon: Really like how Val is open and honest in the media. Doesn’t blur lines and says it how he perceives it. Has us playing some decent football too 👏

liamdunn_131: We need to stop moaning and get on with it. It was the only realistic outcome and is in line with previous similar instances. Yes we were likely to win and it could have huge implications going forward but we can’t demand the win and they were never going to make us just replay the remaining time – we wouldn’t get a point where all the exact same players are fit and available. Maybe part of the issue is lack of investment and infrastructure over the years and poor pitch drainage