City and Watford will have to meet again after last weekend’s postponement
Watford head coach Javi Gracia has spoken for the first time about the decision to call off the Hornets’ game at Hull City last Sunday, less than 20 minutes before kick-off.
Both teams were out warming up on the MKM Stadium playing surface, which had been deemed playable by referee Anthony Backhouse, but concerns were raised about the amount of ice surrounding the pitch.
Ground staff were trying to thaw out the edges of the pitch, which were not protected by the undersoil heating, to no avail, with the referee ultimately calling the game off with the first announcement made at 2:42pm.
Sources present at the various meetings involving the referee, both Gracia and Sergej Jakirovic, coupled with the club’s safety staff, have told Hull Live that all parties were in agreement about the decision to call the game off owing to concerns around player safety.
“In this moment, I don’t understand why we didn’t play,” Gracia said at his press conference. “Of course, we wanted to play, we thought that the pitch was in good condition to do it.
“Around the pitch, there were some things that maybe could delay a little bit the beginning of the game, but after all the supporters travelling, all of us were ready to play. We were really disappointed with the timing and the process, and of course, for all the supporters, our supporters.”
Gracia was asked what happened in the meetings with the referee, and confirmed that the safety of the players couldn’t be guaranteed, and that the EFL made the final call.
“In the last meeting was that they couldn’t assure the security of the players, that was the explanation,” he continued. “I said my opinion, and after I had to accept the EFL decision. In the last meeting with the referees, the Hull (City) manager, I and different safety personnel from there (City) and then all of us said our opinion, and in this case, I was the only one who wanted to play. The last meeting was when I could say my opinion, after that, you cannot say and do anything.”
Gracia was then asked if he thought the Tigers should be punished for the game not going ahead, or if the ground staff should have done more. In terms of the ground staff, he refused to comment.
“I don’t know,” he said when asked if the Tigers should be sanctioned. “I don’t understand because it’s different from Spain. In Spain, for example, when one game is suspended, like some games this season happened (Blackburn vs Ipswich), you play the minutes you have to play with the players you were playing. If you were with 10, you start with 10. If you were losing, you start losing, is something I’m getting used to.”
And as for the return game at the MKM Stadium, which has not yet been rescheduled, Gracia says his side will have no extra motivation.
“We have the motivation we need to face every game. In this case, we’ll be ready. We are awaiting the best date to compete to play that game, and I’m sure we’ll be ready.”
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