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Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 2:42 pm**

During the 'wet' second half of the Burnley game we were all wondering what would've happened if the game had been abandoned considering we were 5-0 up. I know some people thought that if we reached 75 minutes of play then the result would stand but I wasn't convinced. I must have been bored the following day because I emailed the premier league asking them what would've happened. Here's the response I got after three weeks:

Thank you for contacting us.
The FA are responsible for the laws of the game and should be able to clarify the exact ruling for you, but it is our understanding that if the match is abandoned then the Clubs and the Board must then agree a date for the rearranged fixture to be played.
The FA can be contacted at the details below should you wish to contact them directly;
http://www.thefa.com/feedback/

Kind regards,
Communications Team

So then I contacted the FA. Here's their response:

Thank you for your email. This would be dependent on the competition rules, so in this case you would need to contact the Premier League.

Kind regards
The Premier League

So it turns out that the Premier League would've asked the FA, and the FA would've asked the Premier League. Great. I'm still none the wiser.

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 2:49 pm**

Just goes to show we have fucking baffoons running our game.

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 2:52 pm**

hyper wrote:During the 'wet' second half of the Burnley game we were all wondering what would've happened if the game had been abandoned considering we were 5-0 up. I know some people thought that if we reached 75 minutes of play then the result would stand but I wasn't convinced. I must have been bored the following day because I emailed the premier league asking them what would've happened. Here's the response I got after three weeks:

Thank you for contacting us.
The FA are responsible for the laws of the game and should be able to clarify the exact ruling for you, but it is our understanding that if the match is abandoned then the Clubs and the Board must then agree a date for the rearranged fixture to be played.
The FA can be contacted at the details below should you wish to contact them directly;
http://www.thefa.com/feedback/

Kind regards,
Communications Team

So then I contacted the FA. Here's their response:
Thank you for your email. This would be dependent on the competition rules, so in this case you would need to contact the Premier League.

Kind regards
The Premier League

So it turns out that the Premier League would've asked the FA, and the FA would've asked the Premier League. Great. I'm still none the wiser.

Complete Idiots...

I think you should email Sepp Blatter immediately...Oh hang on...

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 2:56 pm**

As clear as mud from the official handbook:

Postponement of League Matches
13. A League Match shall not be postponed or abandoned except:
13.1 when on the date fixed for it to be played either the Home Club or the Visiting Club is
competing in a competition permitted by Rules E.10.1, E.10.2, and E.10.3; or
13.2 with the approval of or on the instructions of the officiating referee; or
13.3 by order of the police or other authority exercising its statutory powers to that effect; or
13.4 on the instructions of or with the prior written consent of the Board.
14. Upon a League Match being postponed or abandoned in accordance with Rules E.13.1, E.13.2 or
E.13.3, the Home Club shall forthwith inform the Secretary, and the Board will thereupon exercise
its power under Rule E.6 and fix a date upon which the League Match in question shall be played.
Failure to play a League Match
15. Except in the case of a League Match which, without either of the participating Clubs being at fault,
is postponed or abandoned under the provisions of Rule E.13, any Club which causes the
postponement or abandonment of a League Match on the date fixed under Rule E.1 or to which it
is rearranged under Rule E.6, E.7 or E8 will be in breach of these Rules and may be dealt with under
the provisions of Section R.
Replaying a League Match
16. The Board shall have power to order that a League Match be replayed provided that a
recommendation to that effect has been made by a Commission in exercise of its powers under Rule
R.42.
viewtopic.php?f=119&t=30342

Perhaps that's why they are asking each other to answer the question.

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 2:57 pm**

that is quite hilarious. although not that surprising. I swear they are just making up the rules as they go along in a lot of cases.

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 3:38 pm**

fuclin amazing..

well done Hyper by the way, good bit of work

makes you wonder what else they haven't got sussed out

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 3:46 pm**

I think the fact that neither party has a fuckin clue what would have happened is scary.

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 4:17 pm**

why should they have a "Pussy Rule" for a bunch of queens that won't run around in the rain and play a children's game?

seems ridiculous to think they should give any other answer than "Play the fucking match lads and chill the fuck out. If the referee allowed it to start it, then finish it."

I believe in a sport like football, Rugby, American football, and games of that ilk (e.g. NOT small-ball games like baseball or cricket or tennis that literally can't be played effectively in a rain or snowstorm) that you shouldn't ever postpone a match once you start it unless you have some fucling tidal wave, horrific ice storm which covers the playing surface or earthquake or volcano spewing molten lava onto the playing surface.

cheers

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 4:38 pm**

Wierd isn't it that nobody knows, I think they take each game on merit. I looked into it at the time and the general concensus was that any abandoned games would have to be played again from the start. However, there was a couple of games that were abandoned after 75 minutes and the score allowed to stand. If I remember rightly, there was one back in the 60's at Gillingham that was abandoned because of the floodlights, they were either 7 up/down with about 80 gone, the game stood. There was also one in the 80's where there was a minute left and Derby needed a win to stay up, the other team needed a win for promotion I think, and because the supporters invaded the pitch the game was abandoned, the result stood and Derby stayed up.

On a similar note, I read one article where City played Luton in the early 60's. There was about 60 minutes gone and City were winning about 6 - 2 (?) with Denis Law scoring all 6! The game was abandoned and rearranged where Luton went on to win by a couple of goals. Anyone remember this just to confirm it?

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 7:09 pm**

It is a concern that neither party were able to give a definitive answer.

Disappointed but not surprised.

Have you thought of bringing this to the attention of Sky Sports. Maybe a journalist would be able to get an answer or for it to go on the agenda for the Premier League 'Chairs' board meetings. Whilst it is unlikely to happen very often the fact we came so close to the match being in serious doubt raises the question that should have a clear and agreed answer. If we'd had to play the game again I know I would have felt robbed!

Posted: **Tue May 04, 2010 7:14 pm**

It's quite worrying that the rules are so vague and only serves to reinforce my worry that if, for example, United were playing Portsmouth and after 80 minutes the match was abandoned and United were winning, then the score would stand. Yet if it was the other way round and Portsmouth were winning, then the match would be replayed.

As bigger clubs have more power in the game, vague rules like this will only help them.

...although if we join the elite clubs over the next year or 2 maybe I won't care ;-)

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