Was it an own goal to cancel football and Last Night of the Proms?
THE FA scored an own goal by postponing football matches, particularly when there wasn’t an obligation to do so. It would have been an opportunity for fans to come together and show their affection for the Queen, who was a true sports fan and woman for all the people. A one-minute silence could have been broadcast from stadiums in the four corners of the UK, adding some diversity to the scenes at Buckingham Palace, Windsor and Balmoral, which have been dominating coverage. STEVE NORRIS,
Coppull, Lancs. I AM sure the Queen would have preferred tens of thousands of her citizens to gather in the name of football and take the opportunity to express their sorrow and love in volumes that would have raised all our spirits. Just think of the economic consequences of the cancellations, including coach companies and rail operators losing income from two weeks of postponed matches. The knee-jerk reaction by the football authorities left them out of line with other sports that carried on and were able to show their love for our greatest Briton.
CHRIS HORSMAN, Little Stanion, Northants. INSTEAD of cancelling matches, fans could have observed a respectful and dignified one-minute silence, as the Houses of Parliament did.
JOHN WATSON, Gillingham, Kent.
FOOtBaLL should have been given the same opportunity as golf and cricket to pay tribute to the Queen.
MIKE COX, Highworth, Wilts. I AM not a football fan who goes to matches, but I was looking forward to thousands of fans giving it their all in tribute to the Queen. It would have brought tears to our eyes.
The long reign of the mother of our nation should be celebrated, so rejoice instead of being morbid.
TERRY WEBSTER, Wakefield, W. Yorks. WOULD the Queen really have wanted the day of her funeral to be a Bank holiday? I believe she would have realised the inevitable disruption this will cause, such as the cancellation of hospital appointments.
What was the point of postponing football matches and other sporting events as a mark of respect? the games should have gone ahead with the players wearing black armbands, singing the National anthem along with the fans and a one-minute silence before the start of the match. What happened at the test match at the Oval was an impeccably conducted mark of respect.
RAY MORRISS, Sanderstead, Surrey. WHILE the death of the Queen is undoubtedly sad, it is important to many that life carries on as normal. She fully deserves a great farewell but the excessive number of days of mourning and cancellation of events is not in the interests of businesses and individuals. The postponing of football matches and local events will do great damage to many. Lost income to coach firms, catering businesses, bars and restaurants is not what they need when they are struggling to survive after the Covid economic downturn. I am sure the Queen would have wanted life to continue as normal.
KARL BUSHELL, Yarnton, Oxon.
LIKE harry Mount, I think it was a great shame to cancel the Last Night of the Proms (Mail). the finale of the greatest musical festival in the world could have been a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the life of the Queen.
It could have been adapted easily for the occasion. I feel sorry for the audience who had bought tickets for this event and for those, like me, who were looking forward to watching it on tV.
EILEEN BRISTOW, Dorking, Surrey. THE Last Night of the Proms is broadcast around the world and so would have been a chance for expats and our friends to come together to remember the Queen. We could also have shown our support for our new King. All those wonderful patriotic songs, such as Rule Britannia, Land Of Hope And Glory and Jerusalem, would have brought us together, given a sense of pride and ensured we forget any differences.
TRICIA CANNON, Newport, Shropshire.