EFL to Fully Investigate 'Appalling' Hull vs Watford Development

The English Football League (EFL) is launching a full investigation into the controversial postponement of Hull City's Championship match against Watford at the MKM Stadium on Sunday afternoon.[1][2][3] The game was called off just 18 minutes before kick-off due to safety concerns over frozen areas surrounding the pitch, despite the pitch itself being initially passed as fit by referee Anthony Backhouse while players were warming up.[2][3][4]

Hull City issued a statement claiming the decision was "agreed by all parties," but Watford strongly disputed this, expressing fury and insisting they were ready and willing to play.[2][3] "We reiterate we were ready and willing to play after the pitch was passed fit by the referee," Watford stated. "We remain disappointed by the decision to postpone, and by how the decision was reached. We did not agree to the postponement."[2][3]

Former referee Keith Hackett described the incident as "appalling," highlighting the last-minute nature of the call-off and calling for a thorough EFL probe into the handling of the situation.[1] The postponement was one of three in the Championship amid freezing conditions, with Sheffield United vs Oxford United scrapped after a Bramall Lane inspection due to player safety fears, and Portsmouth vs Ipswich ruled unplayable at Fratton Park following an 11am check.[2][3]

The cold snap wreaked havoc across lower leagues too: four League One fixtures—Doncaster vs Luton, Rotherham vs Mansfield, Barnsley vs Port Vale, and Stevenage vs Leyton Orient—were postponed, alongside 10 League Two games at venues including Barnet, Barrow, Bromley, Cambridge, Colchester, Harrogate, Newport, Notts County, Salford, and Walsall.[2][3] Even horse racing was affected, with Monday's National Hunt meetings at Ludlow and Lingfield abandoned due to frozen tracks.[2][3]

The EFL's investigation aims to clarify the decision-making process and prevent similar disputes, amid growing frustration over weather-related disruptions in English football.[1][2]

(Word count: 298)