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:
Huddersfield vs Salford play-off to be played on Saturday
At statement from Rugby League’s Super League reads:
“Following the publication of the National Mourning Guidance, and consultation with Government, other sports and Rugby League stakeholders including clubs and broadcasters, Super League can confirm that the Betfred Super League Eliminator between Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils will be played as scheduled on Saturday 10th September (kick off 1pm).
“Due respect will be paid to Her Majesty before both Eliminator fixtures, with a period of silence and where possible the playing of the National Anthem – while players and match officials will be asked to wear black armbands.”
Fantasy Premier League rules: What happens to FPL after GW7 fixtures cancelled?
The Premier League has cancelled this weekend’s fixtures following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with the games now set to be played later in the season, and FPL headquarters has moved to clarify how this decision will impact its 10 million fantasy managers.
The deadline for gameweek 7 will pass at 11am BST on Saturday as originally scheduled, and every fantasy team will score 0 points – unless managers took hits making transfers this week, in which case they will unfortunately still be paying the price of those moves, and will receive -4 per hit.
What happens to FPL after Premier League fixtures cancelled?
FPL rules explained after gameweek 7 fixtures were postponed
Football expected to be postponed next weekend too
More murmurings that the Premier League is readying to postpone next weekend’s fixtures as well.
There was a suggestion during this morning’s talks that there shouldn’t be are matches directly preceding the State Funeral which is expected to be on Monday 19th September.
Golf waits for PGA Championship decision
Players teed off at Wentworth on Thursday for the BMW PGA Championship but play was halted as soon as Queen Elizabeth II’s death was announced.
There is no play on Friday and organisers are yet to decide whether the tournament will resume on Saturday.
The European Tour’s statement yesterday read: “She truly was an inspiration to people the world over. Out of respect for Her Majesty and the Royal Family, play has been suspended at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club for the remainder of Thursday and flags at Wentworth Club will be lowered to half-mast.”
TalkSport ‘investigating’ Trevor Sinclair after ‘inappropriate’ tweet following Queen’s death
Former England international footballer Trevor Sinclair is facing an investigation by his employer after posting on Twitter following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen passed away on Thursday afternoon, with many taking to social media in the aftermath to express their thoughts.
Sinclair, who now works for TalkSport, played for QPR, West Ham United and Manchester City among others during a near-two decade career which also saw him win 12 senior caps for the national team.
However, his own tweet caused outrage from listeners to the radio channel he works with after he suggested that “black and brown” people should not need to “mourn” the passing of Elizabeth II as racism had been allowed to “thrive” under her reign.
TalkSport ‘investigating’ Trevor Sinclair after ‘inappropriate’ tweet on Queen
The pundit voiced his opinion that racism had been ‘allowed to thrive’ during the reign of Elizabeth II
‘A truly remarkable woman’: Gary Lineker and Harry Kane lead sporting tributes after Queen’s death
Gary Lineker and Harry Kane led the tributes to the Queen following her death at the age of 96.
Buckingham Palace announced the news on Thursday evening.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” they said a statement. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
Sport, as the rest of the nation, joined the mourning at an unprecedented time.
Play at the ongoing BMW PGA Championship was immediately suspended for the rest of the day after the news broke, with racing at Southwell and Chelmsford going the same way.
‘A truly remarkable woman’: Sport pays tribute after Queen’s death
Sport joined the nation in mourning after the death of the Queen was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday
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.”
Cricket, rugby and golf still to make postponement decisions
It is unclear whether England cricket’s Test against South Africa will resume or whether Saturday’s play at golf’s PGA Championship will go ahead although the assumption this morning was that they will.
Rugby Union’s Premiership season is due to begin tonight with fixtures scheduled for 19:45 BST. Yesterday the ruling body said that a statement would come out regarding the weekend’s fixtures today but nothing has been released and the longer the day goes on the closer they’re cutting it.
Elsewhere, the British Elite Ice Hockey League said the weekend’s season-opening games would go ahead as planned.
Midweek football games expected to be played
The midweek European matches are expected to go ahead despite the postponements across the domestic football pyramid this weekend.
Discussions are still being held but the current view is that if games can practically go ahead then they should.
BHA chief executive explains decision to extend racing cancellation
Julie Harrington, the Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), explained why they decided to extend the cancellation of horse racing to include Saturday. She said:
“Her Majesty the Queen’s affinity and bond with British racing was enduring and unique, and a number of our sport’s participants have a close, direct relationship with her. It is out of respect for this, and in sympathy with her family including King Charles III, that the sport has taken the decision to continue our suspension of fixtures into Saturday.
“The return of racing on Sunday will see the running of the Cazoo St Leger, one of Britain’s five Classic races and a race which the Queen won with her filly Dunfermline in 1977. This will also provide an opportunity for the sport and its supporters to pay its respects to Her Majesty, for the contribution which she has made to the sport to be marked, and for racing to express its deep gratitude to her and sympathies to her family.”
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