Point apiece for Huddersfield and Blackpool

The game on the final day of the season on May 2 was called off in the 48th minute after Blackpool fans staged a protest in the centre circle, with the score at 0-0.

The Football League board has decided that result should stand and have charged the Seasiders with failing to fulfil a fixture.

Although awarding Blackpool, who were already relegated to League One, a point, the league will review its regulations for future games which are abandoned in similar circumstances while also considering ordering refunds for the 2,287 Huddersfield fans who made the journey across the Pennines.

A statement from the governing body read: “The board took the view that the 0-0 scoreline that stood at the time of the game’s abandonment (in the 48th minute) should be officially recorded as the final result of the match, as it believes that league points should always be earned on the field of play.

“In addition, the board agreed to charge Blackpool with failing to fulfil a fixture and the matter will be heard by a Football Disciplinary Commission (FDC) in due course.

“In making its judgment the FDC will be asked to consider any matters relating to compensation to Huddersfield Town and ticket refunds to supporters.

“The board also asked its executive to review the league’s regulations regarding abandonments to ensure that any such matches can always be played to a conclusion or replayed altogether if deemed necessary.”

The ruling means that Huddersfield finish the season in 16th with 55 points while Blackpool register 26, the joint lowest points tally since the second tier was expanded to 24 teams in 1988.

Referee Mick Russell was forced to take the players off the pitch with the score at 0-0 and, after the game was held up for more than an hour, the decision was taken to call it off altogether.

As a result the Seasiders are charged with a breach of rule 31.1, which states: “Any club failing to fulfil its fixture obligations in respect of any match under the jurisdiction of the League on the appointed date, or dates, or causing the board to suspend any fixture, shall be deemed guilty of misconduct, unless the circumstances giving rise to such failure are outside the control of the club and could not have been reasonably foreseen or reasonably anticipated and remedied prior to the match.”

The charge will be heard by a disciplinary commission while Blackpool could face further sanctions from the Football Association for failing to control the crowd.