Match abandoned in 88th minute has to be played again !

Last week’s Bala Town v The New Saints match was abandoned in the 88th minute. Picture: Bala Town FC website

The FAW continues to confound with its latest decision to order a match abandoned in its 88th minute be replayed.

Last week’s Bala Town v The New Saints encounter came to a sudden halt when the floodlights failed with the score at 2-2.

Bala had been 2-0 up in this Cymru Premier encounter, but a late leveller from TNS had set up a fascinating climax.

However, out went the lights with less than three minutes of the 90 remaining and the game could not be completed.

Past results in similar previous circumstances have usually stood if the match was in its latter stages.

At today’s National Leagues Board, though, it was decided, in accordance with League Rule 20.1 to replay the game in full.

The rule states: Any match not completed may be ordered to stand as a completed match or replayed for the full period of ninety (90) minutes, as the Board may direct.

The game will now be re-played on November 11th at 7.45 pm.

Therefore we have a case of an another fixture being added to the list in the middle of a pandemic.

Extra cost, more testing etc, a couple of days after FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said football in Wales was in a ‘dire financial situation’.

The decision to replay the game has been largely met with disdain on social media.

Former Bala Town striker Ian Sheridan tweeted: “Add another game to an already heavy fixture list, have more potential contact between players, staff & officials, add more costs to already financially burdened clubs just for the sake of a few minutes of football lost. Whats the point of the “may be ordered to stand” part?”

Referee George Ridgeway added: “FAW game board should have made result stand at present….replay it if needed to, if it affects final league placings.”