English Football League matches to resume tomorrow with tributes to the Queen

The English Football League will resume matches tomorrow, with tributes to be paid to the late Queen at grounds around the country.

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.

There is no decision yet on when Premier League games will be resumed.

The next Premier League game is scheduled to take place on Friday due to Champions League matches midweek. Those Champions League matches will take place.

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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.

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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”.

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.”