The wrong decision to postpone football

The Government had given a dictum concerning national mourning stating that there is no obligation to cancel or postpone events or sporting fixtures.

So rugby, cricket and golf were played over the weekend, but no football. Postponed purely about ‘respect’.

The Football League announcement came just over 24 hours until the first weekend fixture, with all clubs having planned for matches to take place (and an international place in Manchester on Thursday evening), so an entire economy of freelance workers, casual labour and employees on zero-hours contracts, suddenly being told they would not be working over the weekend.

Tens of thousands of fans had made travel plans, and because of the Premier League’s international popularity, many fans also were due to come from abroad.

And there were cancellations of football for kids and schools, with many other sports carrying on as normal.

The Football Supporters Association said that it was an opportunity missed for football to pay its own special tributes.

A chance for clubs fans to get together for one minute’s silence to reflect on the Queen and other loved ones who may have passed away.

When all elements are weighed up, including what actually constitutes ‘respect’, it is difficult not to conclude that football made the wrong decision.

BRUCE ADAMS Cox Green Lane

Maidenhead