Premier League urged to reschedule games over ceremony clash
THE Premier League is under pressure to reschedule this Saturday’s Wolves vs Sheffield United match to avoid a clash with the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
The English Football League and Premiership Rugby have announced that Saturday’s fixtures will be rescheduled and horse racing’s Scottish National and the Dubai Duty Free Classic Trials have been moved to Sunday.
Talks will continue between Wolves, Sheffield United, the Premier League and Sky Sports over a change to the 3pm kick-off which coincides with a minute’s silence at the start of the funeral.
The fixture could be rescheduled, to Friday or the following Saturday. Both teams have a clear week before and after the match but, with it due to be live on Sky Sports, they will also be trying to identify another window.
The British Horseracing Authority has said there is no racing on Saturday between 2.45pm and 4.15pm, which means the two principal meetings being put back a day. There will be no ITV racing on Saturday but the main channel will cover both big meetings on Sunday between 12.55pm and 4pm.
Bangor and Thirsk will start early so that they are finished before 2.45pm while the evening meetings at Brighton and Nottingham will go ahead. The first day of Newbury and Ayr will go ahead as scheduled on Friday.
Rangers are due to host Celtic at 4pm, one of six fourth-round ties in the Scottish Cup. The Scottish Football Association said: “In light of confirmation that the funeral of HRH Prince Philip will take place next Saturday at 3pm, we have entered dialogue with the relevant stakeholders with regard to Scottish Cup fourth round fixtures on that day. We will update participating clubs, supporters and partners in due course.”
Government advice is that rescheduling should be “at the discretion of organisers” who may consider black armbands and silence before events.