Sport cancelled LIVE: Cricket and golf resume but Marshall vs Shields off as Premier League postpones fixtures
The Premier League and EFL postponed all professional football in England this weekend as a mark of respect
The Premier League and EFL cancelled their fixtures this weekend as professional football in England will be postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
As the UK enters a period of national mourning, other sports are also making a decision as to whether they will postpone their events this weekend. Decisions regarding further postponements in the calendar are set to be determined following consideration of official mourning guidance, set to be issued by the Cabinet Office, but it is understood it will be left to individual sports event organisers to decide how to proceed - with postponements not being mandatory.
On Thursday evening, following the announcement from Buckingham Palace, the BMW PGA Championship golf event at Wentworth was immediately suspended and Friday’s play cancelled, although the tournament will resume on Saturday and be played over 54 holes. Meanwhile, the ECB also called off day two of the England vs South Africa Test match at the Oval, which was scheduled for Friday, before England captain Ben Stokes urged the rest of the match to be played in “the Queen’s memory” and it was announced that it will indeed resume on Saturday.
The boxing world title fight between Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields at the O2 Arena on Saturday evening was postponed, while Friday night’s pair of Gallagher Premiership matches were called off, although the rest of the opening weekend of action in English rugby’s top flight will go ahead. Elsewhere, Friday and Saturday’s horse racing meetings in the UK have been cancelled and cycling’s Tour of Britain has been suspended but the F1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza will go ahead with a minute’s silence in honour of the Queen.
Follow all the latest updates on sport’s cancellations with our live blog below:
Weekend’s Scottish football postponed following Queen’s death
The weekend’s Scottish football fixture card has been postponed as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen.
Government advice was that sport was under no obligation to stop but the Scottish football authorities made the announcement after leagues in Northern Ireland and England had earlier called off all matches.
A joint statement read: “Following meetings this morning (Friday), the Scottish FA, Scottish Professional Football League, Scottish Women’s Premier League, and Scottish Highland and Lowland Football Leagues have agreed that all professional football matches will be postponed this weekend as a mark of respect following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
Weekend’s Scottish football postponed following Queen’s death
Scottish football authorities made the announcement after leagues in Northern Ireland and England had earlier called off all matches.
England managers pay tribute to the Queen
England managers, Gareth Southgate and Sarina Wiegman have paid tribute to the Queen with messages of condolence to the Royal Family and the country at large.
Horse racing postponed on Saturday
The British Horseracing Authority have announced that meetings scheduled for Saturday have also been cancelled but will resume on Sunday 11th. In a press release they announced:
“British racing remains in mourning today regarding the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
“As an ongoing mark of respect it has been determined that, alongside the cancellation of fixtures on 8th and 9th September, all racing will also be cancelled tomorrow, Saturday 10th September. Scheduled fixtures and racing events will return on Sunday 11th September.
“An additional day of racing at Doncaster will also be scheduled for Sunday 11th September, to ensure that the Cazoo St Leger and other important races lost as result of the cancellations can take place.
“However, the fixture scheduled for Musselburgh racecourse on Sunday will be cancelled as a mark of respect for the fact that the Queen’s body will be lying in rest in Edinburgh.”
Premiership Rugby to go ahead on Saturday and Sunday
Rugby Union’s governing body have made their decision over this weekend fixtures and it’s good news for fans as the majority of games will take place.
Only the two matches scheduled for Friday evening, Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby and Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints, have been postponed with the former being rearranged for Saturday.
In a statement released on Premiership Rugby’s website they said:
“Premiership Rugby is united in paying tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her inspirational life of service and her unparalleled contribution to the United Kingdom.
“Following consultation with the RFU, DCMS and the PRL Board, Premiership Rugby can confirm that as a mark of respect, the two Gallagher Premiership matches scheduled for today will be postponed. Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby will take place at 5.30pm on Saturday and an update will be given on Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints as soon as possible.
“The other matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will go ahead as scheduled, with Premiership clubs joining with supporters in recognising Queen Elizabeth’s life and service. Prior to the start of each match, a one-minute silent tribute will take place. All players and coaches will be invited to wear black armbands.”
Foodbanks, respect and societal cost: Why football should not have been cancelled this weekend
When the Premier League met at 11am on Friday morning, one consideration was paramount, and was why the decision took just 20 minutes.
That was that the late Queen Elizabeth II was a patron of the Football Association with Prince William, as well as the monarch for over 70 years, so the only possible conclusion was to postpone. It was purely, to quote a few sources, about “respect”.
That was despite other sports playing on, and the fact that there were a lot of serious elements to respectfully consider. The decision was nothing to do with a lack of policing, something that could be an issue before the funeral next weekend, potentially causing a second successive week of postponed fixtures. That is to be discussed. It could have significant consequences for many.
Why football should not have been cancelled this weekend
The game has often led the way in showing respect and solidarity to others and postponing matches will cause economic harm to many
Railways offering fee-free ticket exchange
A scheme on the National Rail website is allowing travellers with advanced tickets to claim a fee-free voucher or a new booking for the same journey at a later date as long as they request a change in their booking by 6pm the day before their journey.
This ‘Book with Confidence’ scheme could be useful to any football fans who were planning a journey around the country this weekend now that the games have all been postponed.
This is the statement from the website including terms and conditions:
“The rail industry have introduced an easement to the terms & conditions of Advance tickets sold by rail retailers, to help you travel with confidence if your travel plans change.
“You can amend when you travel fee-free up until 6pm the day before you travel.
“Applies to Advance tickets purchased until 30 September 2022. Fare price difference may apply. Advance tickets purchased online can be exchanged for a voucher for future journey. See Terms & Conditions below for details.
“Check with your ticket retailer to find out if they are participating in the Book with Confidence scheme.
“Book with Confidence Terms & Conditions: Advance tickets can be exchanged to travel on the same journey but at a different time or date, paying any difference in fare but fee-free or surrendered back to the retailer for a rail travel voucher which can be used on any future journey or purchase within 12 months.
“Changes must be requested no later than 6pm (18:00) the day before you are due to travel. After this, Advance tickets can still be changed up to the departure of the first booked train for a fee of no more than £10 per ticket.”
West Ham fans sing ‘God save the Queen'
As the news broke that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away yesterday West Ham United were gearing up for their Europa Conference League against FCSB.
During the match the home fans broke out in song and paid tribute to the late monarch with a rendition of the national anthem.
Have a watch:
Uefa competitions to continue?
Uefa has published a media schedule for next week’s fixtures in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League showing that there are no plans of postponing those matches.
Given the fixtures feature teams from across the continent a postponent was never likely and as of now those fixtures are expected to go ahead including the ones featuring teams from the UK.
Liverpool need to ‘reinvent’ themselves – so how does Jurgen Klopp do it?
There are different forms of footballing heartbreak. For Liverpool, the sight of Wolves on Saturday had the game gone ahead would have been a reminder of the better kind. Thanks to the vagaries of the fixture list, the men from Molineux were the final-day visitors to Anfield twice in four seasons. Jurgen Klopp’s team won both games, and in vain. Manchester City trailed but prevailed in their respective matches and became champions on each occasion.
With 97 points in 2018-19 and 92 last year, Liverpool fell short by one on each occasion. Now that 97 and 92 feel distant tallies; not because they only have nine, but because they have dropped as many and seem headed for far fewer than in three of the last four campaigns.
Now they have an unwanted reminder that there is a different kind of despair. Even amid an unconvincing start to the season, even with the disappointment that accompanies a defeat at Old Trafford, there was nothing comparable with the trauma in Naples. That 4-1 evisceration has the potential to prove a one-off, but also to be the kind of symbolic indication that a dream and a team is fading.
Liverpool need to ‘reinvent’ themselves – so how does Jurgen Klopp do it?
Klopp must pick his side up after the 4-1 evisceration against Napoli, which was the worst result of an already hugely disappointing start to the season
Graham Potter led first Chelsea training session on Friday despite postponement
Graham Potter led his first training session as Chelsea boss on Friday, despite the weekend’s Premier League postponements.
Chelsea, who had been due to visit Fulham on Saturday before football fixtures at all levels across the UK were postponed as a mark of respect to Her Majesty The Queen, are currently understood to be preparing as normal for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against RB Salzburg at Stamford Bridge.
Potter was confirmed as Chelsea’s first managerial appointment under new owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali on Thursday.
Graham Potter led first Chelsea training session on Friday despite postponement
Chelsea are currently understood to be preparing as normal for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against RB Salzburg at Stamford Bridge.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies