Blackpool given suspended points deduction for abandoned match
Tuesday 4 August 2015 20:13, UK
Blackpool have been deducted three points, suspended for next two seasons, after their final league game of the 2014/15 season was abandoned due to a pitch invasion.
The Seasiders game with Huddersfield on May 2 was abandoned in the 48th minute with the game level at 0-0 as home fans protested on the pitch against the club’s owners, the Oyston family.
The contest was held up for an hour before finally being called off, with the Football League later confirming the result would stand and the match would not be replayed.
“A Football Disciplinary Commission (FDC) has ruled that Blackpool are to be deducted three points, to be suspended for the next two seasons, for failing to fulfil the club’s Sky Bet Championship fixture with Huddersfield Town on 2nd May 2015,” read a Football League statement.
“The Seasiders were also required to pay the costs of the hearing.
“An application from The Football League for Blackpool to be required to pay compensation to Huddersfield supporters of equivalent value to the club’s gate receipts from away ticket sales was rejected by the three-man Commission.
“The FDC ruled that the game’s abandonment affected law-abiding supporters of both clubs equally. It would therefore be unfair to favour the interests of one group of supporters over the other.
“The FDC will publish its full written reasons in due course.”
Blackpool will start the new season in Sky Bet League One after they finished bottom of the Championship in 2014/15, with Neil McDonald’s first game coming at Colchester on Saturday.
