A last-minute EFL ruling was made prior to Cardiff vs. Birmingham City.

The match between Cardiff City and Birmingham City has been postponed by the EFL.

Robert Madley has been ruled out of this midweek’s Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Cardiff City due to a desperate decision.

On Wednesday night, the two clubs square off at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. Madley was supposed to referee the match, but fans objected, pointing out the official’s fan loyalty to Huddersfield Town, a team that the Blues are relegation rivals.

The EFL is now taking that association into consideration, and Sam Allison will now be in charge of B9 operations. Fourth official Andy Davies and assistant referees Greg Read and Daniel Leach are still scheduled to officiate the Birmingham match. Madley will now officiate the match between Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

The Blues have experienced late officiating adjustments before this season, as evidenced by assistant James Wilson’s marking off of the March 12 home game against Middlesbrough. When Birmingham was refused a penalty for what seemed to be a clear handball by Ozan Tufan, there was a similar outcry from the crowd at Hull City when Wilson ran the line.

In both cases, the EFL has yielded, presumably to relieve their referees of some of their strain. With the Blues battling for relegation and every game serving as a cup final until the end of the season, the intensity is already high enough.