The Championship match between Sheffield United and Oxford United has been called off as adverse weather continues to disrupt English football this weekend. It is among numerous fixtures across the EFL to be affected, with games in League One and League Two also postponed.
A second Championship fixture, Portsmouth v Ipswich, has also been abandoned. “The referee was called to Bramall Lane this morning with parts of the playing surface frozen and following an inspection he has taken the decision to call off the fixture due to concerns over player safety,” the Blades said in a statement. “An announcement regarding a rearranged date will be confirmed in due course.
“Officials at Sheffield United are extremely disappointed the fixture could not go ahead. In the build up to the game, our pre-match procedures for forecasted low temperatures were followed, which included the use of our undersoil heating system.
“This morning a small section of the playing surface was raised as a cause for concern. With this area still part frozen, all attempts were made to address this section of the pitch for it to meet the standard required for the match to go ahead.
“The referee was then called in at the earliest possible opportunity to assess the playing surface. After he arranged an inspection, he deemed there to be a player safety concern, and opted to call off the fixture at 10am.”
The two League One fixtures already called off were Doncaster vs Luton and Rotherham vs Mansfield. In League Two, five matches were postponed on Sunday, with two additional fixtures cancelled following pitch inspections on Sunday morning.
Sheffield United’s clash with Oxford was scheduled for a noon kick-off, whilst a pitch inspection was also planned ahead of the 3pm fixture between Portsmouth and Ipswich. Temperatures on the south coast plummeted well below zero on Saturday night, putting the fixture in jeopardy, and Portsmouth confirmed the postponement shortly after 11am.
“#Pompey’s Championship fixture against Ipswich has been postponed due to a frozen pitch,” the club said. “Referee Leigh Doughty made the call after an inspection of the Fratton Park surface at 11am.
“Portsmouth had been hit by overnight temperatures of below freezing, with frost covers having been laid since Friday. Information for supporters who had purchased match tickets or hospitality packages for this game will be announced in due course.”
Doncaster confirmed the sub-zero overnight conditions contributed to their match against Luton failing its pitch inspection. “Throughout the week, the playing surface was double covered with frost sheeting and lighting rigs used to provide the best opportunity for the fixture to take place,” they wrote in a statement.
“But fresh overnight sub-zero temperatures have left parts of the pitch frozen with no chance of thaw ahead of kick-off, leading a match official to determine play would be unsafe during an inspection on Sunday morning. A rearranged date for the game will be confirmed in due course, along with information on the procedure for tickets purchased for the original date.”