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:
Premier League postponed next weekend too?
There are reports that next Saturday’s top flight fixtures are also expected to be postponed in line with the Queen’s state funeral which is tentatively believed to be taking place on Monday 19th September.
The next available date to play any deferred matches is the weekend of January 17th/18th 2023.
WSL postponed
As expected following the cancellation of Premier League and EFL fixtures, the FA has announced that the Women’s Super League will not take place this weekend either.
Football cancelled but other sports expected to continue
The guidance from the DCMS told sporting bodies this morning that this weekend’s action could go ahead but left the final decision up to them.
The Premier League and EFL have announced that all fixtures up to Monday night have been postponed but other sports are expected to continue.
England’s third Test against South Africa is playing to resume on Saturday along with the PGA Championship at Wentworth and it is also looks increasingly likely Sunday’s Great North Run will take place.
Rugby League at all levels will also go ahead this weekend including the Super League playoff on Saturday.
Queen’s horse King’s Lynn will not run at the Curragh
King’s Lynn, the only horse owned by the Queen entered to run this weekend, has not been declared for the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
Winner of the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock earlier in the season, the Andrew Balding-trained five-year-old has since finished down the field in both the King’s Stand and the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
He had the option of bidding for Group One glory once more on day two of Irish Champions Weekend, but will not be making the trip across the Irish Sea.
Queen’s horse King’s Lynn will not run at the Curragh
The Andrew Balding-trained five-year-old was the only horse owned by the Queen entered to run this weekend
Super League play-off expected to go ahead
Ian Laybourn of the PA news agency says that the weekend’s Super League play-offs are expected to go ahead as will rugby league at all levels.
That’s no surprise given the zero margin for manoeuvre with the play-offs.
The Guardian’s Aaron Bower says the same thing.
Premier League and EFL postpone fixtures following Queen’s death
The Premier League and EFL have postponed their fixtures this weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
The footballing bodies held an emergency meeting with the Government on Friday morning to decide whether to postpone the weekend’s fixtures and have opted to cancel all games as a show of respect to the monarch after her 70-year reign, as the UK enters a period of national mourning.
A statement from the Premier League confirmed: “At a meeting this morning, Premier League clubs paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. To honour her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game.”
Premier League and EFL postpone fixtures following Queen’s death
With a period of national mourning beginning, all this weekend’s professional football games in England have been postponed
Weekend Premier League matches postponed
The Premier League has postponed all scheduled fixtures for this weekend out of respect to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Here is the released statement which says arrangements to rearrange the fixtures will be announced at a later date.
Premier League and EFL games postponed
A statement from the EFL reads:
"Further to discussions on Friday morning it has been determined that all EFL fixtures from 9-10 September will be postponed as a mark of respect by the National Sport to the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II.
“This is aligned with the approach that the Premier League and the FA will take with their competitions this weekend.
“Further information, in respect of how football, Clubs and their supporters will commemorate Her Majesty’s reign will be confirmed at an appropriate point.
“Details regarding rearranged games will be announced in due course."
Premier League expected to cancel weekend fixtures
The Premier League has been in discussions since 11am over whether to postpone this weekend’s fixtures and word is slowly coming out that that is indeed the case.
Expect the EFL to follow suit as well.
Great North Run in doubt
The Great North Run, the world’s largest half-marathon, is set for Sunday but it is unclear whether the run will go ahead. Organisers cancelled its 5k sister event on Friday with a decision of the main race due later today.
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