Death of Queen Elizabeth: England postpones football games to mourn longest-reigning monarch – National

All football matches in England between September 9 and 11 were postponed by the country’s Football Association (FA) on Friday as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth, but cricket and rugby matches will go ahead as scheduled this weekend.

The football first division Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) had already announced that they would postpone their next round of games.

The Queen, Britain’s longest reigning monarch, died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday aged 96.

“As a mark of respect, following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, English football has joined forces to postpone all football matches between 9-11 September,” the FA said in a statement.

“The FA can confirm that all football matches in the Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays Women’s Championship, Vitality Women’s FA Cup and Isuzu FA Trophy this weekend will be postponed.”

Matches in the lower tiers of the football pyramid and in grassroots football have also been postponed, the FA added.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had previously provided guidance saying there was “no obligation to cancel or reschedule events and sporting events or close entertainment venues during the national mourning period”.

The Premier League said a decision to postpone the games had been taken at a meeting on Friday.

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“In honor of her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League round of play is postponed, including Monday night’s game,” it said.

The EFL said all of their September 9-10 games will be postponed.

As of Friday earlier, all football matches in Northern Ireland this weekend have been postponed.

The Football Association of Wales has said it has postponed games from September 9-12 at all levels of the game, while professional games in Scottish football have also been cancelled.

“The death of the Queen, a constant in our lives for 70 years, is a profound and momentous event,” said Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League.

“It is therefore fitting that professional football celebrates this event with all possible solemnity.”

England’s Cricket Board (ECB) said the men’s test match between England and South Africa will resume at The Oval on Saturday after day two was suspended on Friday.

The first day was a blur without a ball being thrown. The ECB is also looking at the possibility of extending the game to Tuesday to make up for the lost second day.

Saturday’s women’s Twenty20 international between England and India is also taking place in Durham.

England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) said matches and other rugby activities scheduled for the weekend would go ahead to allow people to come together and mourn.

“The overwhelming opinion shared within the game so far is that teams and supporters want to come together to honor Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to join in our grief as we express our sadness at her passing ‘ said the RFU.

Premiership Rugby postponed two season-opening games scheduled for Friday – Bristol Bears against Bath Rugby and Sale Sharks against Northampton Saints – but said the other games on Saturday and Sunday would go ahead as planned.

“Before the start of each game, there will be a one-minute silent tribute. All players and coaches are invited to wear black armbands,” they said.

However, Welsh Rugby Union suspended all senior games in Wales that were due to take place between 9 and 11 September. However, junior matches will continue, with clubs being urged to observe a two-minute silence before all matches.

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The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth will restart as a 54-hole event on Saturday, the DP World Tour said after play was suspended late Thursday and Friday’s game was canceled.

“It is not possible to play the entire 72 holes and finish on Monday as we cannot guarantee the staff, facilities or security of the venue on Monday due to ongoing state funeral plans,” the organizers said.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) suspended all events for two days and said they would resume on Sunday.

“However, out of respect for the fact that the Queen’s body will be laid to rest in Edinburgh, the game scheduled for Sunday at Musselburgh Racecourse is cancelled,” she added.

The British Boxing Board of Control has postponed all of its tournaments this weekend, meaning Savannah Marshall’s world middleweight title fight against Claressa Shields will not go ahead.

Sunday’s Great North Run, the world’s largest half-marathon with 60,000 participants, will go ahead as planned, organizers said.

“The thousands of participating runners are expected to raise an estimated £25 million ($28.99 million) in much-needed charitable donations, a fitting tribute to the Queen who spent her life serving our country and its people.” , they said .

($1 = 0.8624 pounds)
— Reporting by Manasi Pathak and Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, with additional reporting by Nick Said