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Ex-PGMOL Chief”- Abandonments could follow in days after what is seen in Leeds game Vs Stoke City
Keith Hackett has warned that match abandonments could occur this week, following the thick fog that affected Leeds United’s win over Stoke on Boxing Day.
Leeds triumphed 2-0 at the Bet365 Stadium on December 26, but Sky Sports commentators joked that the game might have been called off if the weather had worsened.
Hackett, a former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee, explained the procedures for abandoning a match due to weather conditions, emphasizing that officials will do everything possible to complete the game once it has started.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News about the possibility of abandonments this week, he said: “Yes – and the general process a referee follows includes:
1. Consulting with the local Met Office for an updated weather forecast and how it will evolve in the next few hours.
2. Assessing the situation by coordinating with the Ground Commander to determine where home and away fans are in their journey.
3. Advising the club secretary not to allow fans into the stadium.
4. Standing behind one goal in the stands to check if the opposite goal is visible. If not, the game should not proceed.
The club secretary would then coordinate with the media, including local broadcasters, to announce if the game has been abandoned.
Hackett continued: “If the fog worsens during the match, officials will do everything they can to finish the game within the 90-minute period. However, if conditions deteriorate further, the referee will consult with the ground commander and decide to abandon the game. A few more minutes will be played to allow for safe exit of the crowd, with police organizing the evacuation.”
For Leeds and manager Daniel Farke, momentum is key. After climbing to the top of the Championship with their victory at Stoke, the upcoming match against Derby on December 29 is crucial to maintaining their form as 2025 approaches.
With teams like Burnley, Sunderland, and Sheffield United facing each other in the coming days, any match abandonments would be unwelcome.
In other Leeds United news, Jorge Mendes is now involved as the club prepares a massive bid for their first signing of January.
