All football matches have been cancelled this weekend and next week’s fixtures could also be postponed as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen.
Despite being given the option to play on after the passing of Britain’s longest-serving monarch, who was patron of the FA, football will observe a total shutdown from the Premier League to grassroots.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport released a statement yesterday confirming ‘there is no obligation’ to postpone sporting fixtures. Any decision was left ‘at the discretion of individual organisations’.
Cricket will play on with the third Test between England and South Africa resuming at the Oval today after yesterday was cancelled and rugby union’s Premiership season will kick off on Saturday after two matches on Friday night were postponed.
But football will come to a standstill. The Premier League and EFL confirmed their matches will be postponed, with details on further games during the period of mourning and rearrangements to follow. The FA confirmed all fixtures in their competitions, including the opening weekend of the Women’s Super League, non-League and grassroots football will also no longer go ahead.
It is expected that UEFA will continue with their programme, starting with the European matches involving British clubs on Tuesday.
The Premier League and English Football League have postponed this weekend’s fixtures
The Premier League released a statement saying they made the decision to postpone the fixtures to honour Queen Elizabeth’s ‘extraordinary life and contribution to the nation’
Next week’s football fixtures could also be in danger due to concerns about police resources being too stretched, with the Queen’s funeral expected to take a week on Monday.
The situation leaves the Premier League with a problem as to when games can be rearranged, especially as the calendar has already been condensed due to the winter World Cup in Qatar.
The Football Supporters Association believe it would have been a good chance for fans to pay respects to the Queen if games had gone ahead this weekend. They said: ‘We believe football is at its finest when bringing people together at times of huge national significance. Our view, which we shared with the football authorities, is that most supporters would have like to go to games this weekend and pay their respect to the Queen alongside their fellow fans.’
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have issues their guidance for sporting events this weekend as the country continues to mourn for Queen Elizabeth II
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, added: ‘We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country.
‘As our longest-serving monarch, she has been an inspiration and leaves behind an incredible legacy following a life of dedication.
‘This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her, and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.’
If next week’s matches are postponed then there could be no Premier League football until October 1 – nearly a month away – because of the upcoming international break.
The postponement of the entire programme could create fixture congestion later in the season as there are no free midweeks between now and the mid-winter break for the World Cup – which begins in Qatar just seven days after the Premier League pauses.
Buckingham Palace announced the news that the Queen had died peacefully on Thursday
The Premier League and EFL’s decision to postpone this weekend’s fixtures comes shortly after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport issued their guidance.
The UK Government said there was no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period.
However, they said that the decision was left at the discretion of individual organisations and hinted that they should ‘hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures’ if they decide to go ahead.
Despite being down to individual governing bodies, the chair of the DCMS Select Committee Julian Knight told TalkSPORT that no sporting events should take place out of respect for Queen Elizabeth II – who passed away peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon.
There are concerns that next week’s fixtures could also be delayed with police set to be redeployed to London for the Queen’s funeral
The following statement was shared by the Chief sports reporter for The Times outlining what has been said in regard so sporting fixtures this weekend
A statement from the Government read: ‘There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period.
‘This is at the discretion of individual organisations. As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral.
‘They are under no obligation to do and this is entirely at the discretion of the individual organisations.
‘If sporting fixtures or events are planned for the day of the State Funeral, organisations may want to adjust the event timings so they do not clash with the timings of the funeral services and associated processions.
‘As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands.’
Play at the BMW PGA Championship was stopped following the news. Flags on the grounds were lowered to half mast shortly after the announcement and play was scrapped on Friday
Several sporting events had already been cancelled prior to the guidance. Friday’s fixture between England and South Africa at The Oval, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, have not taken place.
Northampton announced the postponement of their Premiership Rugby Cup clash against Saracens scheduled on Thursday evening and the Scottish Rugby Union has postponed all domestic competitive games this weekend as a mark of respect.
The women’s summer Test international between Scotland and Spain on Sunday has also been called off after Buckingham Palace announced the passing of the Queen on Thursday evening.
Play at the BMW PGA Championship was also stopped following the news. Flags on the grounds were lowered to half mast shortly after the announcement and play was scrapped on Friday.
The Union Flag above Wentworth House flies at half mast following the death of the Queen
Meanwhile, the British Horseracing Authority decided to abandon their meetings at Southwell and Chelmsford on Thursday evening before calling off Friday’s races Doncaster.
Additionally, Friday’s Tour of Britain stage was cancelled straight after the announcement. They then stated they would be cancelling the rest of the tour, which was set to finish on the Isle of Wight on Sunday.
The English Football League also confirmed that Friday night’s Championship game between Burnley and Norwich and the League Two match between Tranmere and Stockport had been postponed.
However, EFL and several other sports decided to wait for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s guidance before decided about fixtures on Saturday.
The England and Wales Cricket Board also announced that there would be no play on Friday at the third Test match between England and South Africa at The Oval
The British Horseracing Authority abandoned their meetings at Southwell and Chelmsford on Thursday before calling off Friday’s races Doncaster after the Queen – who is pictured with Prince Philip at Royal Ascot 2017 – passed away
Given the nature of the government’s announcement, the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association will decide it was best to postpone their fixtures.
Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Real Sociedad at Old Trafford and West Ham’s game against FCSB in the Europa Conference League at the London Stadium went ahead on Thursday evening with pre-match tributes.
However, Friday night’s Championship game between Burnley and Norwich and the League Two match between Tranmere and Stockport were postponed.
The Scottish Professional Football League also announced that Friday evening’s Championship clash between Dundee and Cove Rangers was off as a result of the Queen’s passing.
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