Both sets of players were out warming up when the postponement decision was made
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
15:07, 04 Jan 2026Updated 17:29, 04 Jan 2026
The game was called off just 20 minutes before its scheduled kick-off.(Image: Pro Sports Images)
Hull City’s game against Watford was postponed just under 20 minutes before kick-off due to concerns over player safety at the MKM Stadium on Sunday.
The playing surface was deemed playable by referee Anthony Backhouse amid freezing temperatures overnight in East Yorkshire, but the surrounding areas of the pitch were not.
Earlier in the afternoon, City’s groundstaff were using gas flames and pitch lamps to try and melt the ice around the sides of the pitch, but to no avail.
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Large swathes of ice remained around the edge of the pitch, and despite that, just under 20 minutes before kick-off, the decision was made to cancel the game.
“Hull City’s Sky Bet Championship match against Watford has been postponed due to player safety concerns. While the pitch is playable, areas surrounding the playing surface have been deemed unsafe,” City wrote 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 Tigers were expecting a crowd of around 21,000 for their second home game of the calendar year, with around 1,000 making the journey up from Hertfordshire in support of the in-form Hornets, who had won their previous four games.
Boos greeted the announcement, which came shortly after the club’s statement on social media, with fans from both sides trudging off.
Both sets of players had been out warming up before the Watford players headed over to applaud their travelling contingent, and then they disappeared about 20 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time. The club say they will confirm details of the rearranged fixture in due course.
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