By Keith Hackett

23rd Mar, 2023 | 8:30am

Ex-Fifa official 'gobsmacked' as Cardiff City footage emerges - probe expected

Keith Hackett has insisted the EFL should launch an investigation into the circumstances which saw Rotherham’s clash with Cardiff postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Saturday (18 March).

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee was left “gobsmacked” by footage that emerged from Yorkshire showing the sprinklers in operation during a downpour.

Rotherham’s clash with Cardiff at the New York Stadium (18 March) was suspended early in the second half due to a waterlogged pitch – with the Welsh side leading 1-0 through a Jaden Philogene strike.

In footage posted to Twitter by Sky Sports reporter and ex-Liverpool striker Neil Mellor (18 March), the sprinklers can be seen watering the pitch at half-time despite rain already pouring onto the pitch.

Fans were also quick to highlight (as per Twitter) footage of Rotherham ground staff pushing water back onto the playing surface as they tried to get the game back on.

As is the case with every postponement, the EFL will review the circumstances of the decision made – but has not yet made any official comment.

Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I have no doubts that this will be investigated thoroughly by the Football League. It has to be.

“I don’t think this is the way with Rotherham. They’ve got a good history of being a fair club.

“But it’s bizarre, this footage. I’m amazed that it was cancelled. I wasn’t too far away, and a lot of games managed to take place – and that’s at grassroots level.

“But to be putting on the sprinklers while the rain is coming down as heavy as it was – that will raise a lot of eyebrows in the EFL.

“They’ll want to know why those actions were taken. I was gobsmacked to see both the sprinklers and the groundsmen doing what they did.”

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