A minute’s silence will be held before matches, with black armbands to be worn by participants, flags to be flown at half-mast and the National Anthem to be played in stadiums.
News reporter @megbaynes
Monday 12 September 2022 17:48, UK
The English Football League and Scottish Football Association will resume matches tomorrow, with tributes to be paid to the late Queen at grounds around the country – but the Europa League match between Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven has been postponed.
A minute’s silence will be held before matches, with black armbands to be worn by participants, flags to be flown at half-mast and the National Anthem to be played in stadiums.
It comes as the FA has given the go ahead for all levels of football to resume playing matches.
The Premier League is still to confirm when it will resume its fixtures.
However, Thursday’s Europa League clash between Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven has been postponed “due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events”, UEFA has announced.
The next Premier League game is scheduled to take place on Friday due to Champions League matches midweek. Those Champions League matches will currently take place.
Sporting events after the Queen’s death: Some cancelled, some to go ahead, but why?
The Scottish Football Association said in a statement: “Following confirmation of the postponement of all fixtures in the professional game across Scotland last weekend as a mark of respect for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we can confirm the intention for the professional game to resume as normal.
“Fixtures will go ahead, subject to Police Scotland resourcing, with the caveat that any fixtures under the professional banner be rescheduled if they fall on Monday September 19, the day of Her Majesty’s funeral.
“This week, as a mark of respect and in keeping with the period of National Mourning, home clubs may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem just ahead of kick-off, and players may wish to wear black armbands.
“We thank clubs and league organisations for the mark of respect shown at the weekend and for their efforts in resuming the professional game fixture schedule.”
Matches halted as ‘mark of respect’
The football associations of England, Wales, and Scotland all postponed all matches, from the Premier League to grassroots.
The FA’s decision, which was revealed after the Premier League and English Football League suspended matches, delayed the start of the Women’s Super League season and comes despite government guidance which stated there was no official obligation to cancel events.
The decision to halt matches was seen as purely a mark of respect for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, though some fans and public figures voiced criticism on social media, suggesting sport would have brought people together.
Queen dies – latest news: King to address parliament before leading royal procession
Many said the postponements would also intensify fixture congestion ahead of the World Cup this autumn in Qatar.
In contrast, rugby fixtures went ahead as planned.
The British Horseracing Authority also confirmed racing would not take place on Saturday but it returned as normal the following day with an extended nine-race card planned for Doncaster.
Police resourcing issues
Resourcing issues, particularly in respect of policing, are associated with some fixtures that will need to be discussed and resolved on a fixture-by-fixture basis over the period ahead.
Consideration to individual fixture circumstances will be made on a case-by-case basis, in line with usual protocols.
The National Police Chief’s Council said in a statement that a national policing operation had been activated and that UK Policing was working closely with other organisations to ensure events are held “safely and with the appropriate security”.
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More on the Queen:
Guidance for Queen’s lying in state
World leaders ‘to be bussed’ to funeral
Prince Harry’s tribute to ‘granny’
The NPCC added: “Following the decisions of the Premier League and English Football League to cancel this weekend’s matches, we will work with football clubs to try and ensure that, where possible, football fixtures can take place safely when balanced against the requirement to support national events and deliver day to day policing.
“This is a unique situation and we are working closely with everyone involved.”
