Championship match called off 20 minutes before kick-off as chaos erupts | Football | Sport

January 4, 2026 2,289

Hull City confirmed that their Championship match with Watford had been called off just 20 minutes before kick-off. Weather conditions forced officials to postpone the clash, with snow and ice causing the second-division affair to be the latest to fall victim to the icy weather hitting the UK.

“While the pitch is playable, areas surrounding the playing surface have been deemed unsafe,” the club said in a statement. “Although this has been constantly worked on, conditions haven’t improved and with temperatures continuing to fall, player safety cannot be guaranteed.”

The temperature in Hull was barely above zero and the sun was shining, but despite pitch lamps being deployed in order to combat the snow and ice that had fallen, it was deemed necessary to call the game off due to safety fears.

Hull’s pitch was deemed playable following a pitch inspection, as work was underway around the side of the grass to defrost those areas, which proved problematic.

Both teams went out to warm up as usual and the lineups were announced an hour before kick-off, with all expectation that the game would go ahead, but as the players ended their time on the pitch they clapped the supporters, which is not usual.

Suspicions were raised and minutes later, Hull’s statement was released, confirming that the match could not be played as expected.

It was the third game called off in the Championship, though Sheffield United vs Oxford United and Portsmouth vs Ipswich were both postponed with hours still to go before kick-off.

Multiple games across League One and League Two also had to be cancelled.

Sunday’s postponed EFL matches

Games were scheduled to start at 3pmunless stated

Championship

Sheffield United v Oxford Utd (12:00)

Portsmouth v Ipswich

Hull City vs Watford

League One

Doncaster v Luton

Port Vale v Barnsley

Rotherham v Mansfield

Stevenage v Leyton Orient