Daily Mail

FOOTBALL GOES INTO SHUTDOWN

All fixtures called off but cricket and rugby will play on

- By ADRIAN KAJUMBA

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 today after two matches last 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 continute with their programme, starting with the European matches involving British clubs on Tuesday. 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.’

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