Premier League and English Football League fixtures for this weekend have been postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The move, however, has not gone down well with most football fans.
Premier League fixtures for this weekend have been postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. Matches in the top four divisions of English football have been called off after their respective governing body opted to cancel this weekend's round of fixtures.
"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," a statement from the Premier League read.
As a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed.
— Premier League (@premierleague)Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, said, "We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty's long and unwavering service to our country. As our longest-serving monarch, she has been an inspiration and leaves behind an incredible legacy following a life of dedication."
"This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation, but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her, and we join together with all those in mourning her passing," Masters added.
Further updates regarding Premier League fixtures during the period of mourning will be provided in due course.
Games in the Women's Super League, Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League are also likely to be rescheduled as a mark of respect to the former Head of State.
The Queen died at the age of 96 on Thursday. She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history and the world's oldest head of state.
Following this news, Premier League fans expressed disappointment especially given that the football community is staring at a cramped season in a World Cup year.
"The latest mistake in a long line of virtue signalling moves from an organisation obsessed with PR and image and lacking common sense and principle. Pathetic," noted one user on Twitter.
Meanwhile, another added, "Premier League choose PR over player welfare. Classic. Gameweek 7 cancelled."
Here's a look at some of the reactions:
Bonkers decision. Cramped season in a World Cup year and we’re all still at work. I take it Charles is paying for the refunds for fans who’ve booked travel? https://t.co/Zjz09txPJj
— Stacey Henley (@FiveTacey)The latest mistake in a long line of virtue signalling moves from an organisation obsessed with PR and image and lacking common sense and principle. Pathetic. https://t.co/UkT67ICUQa
— Sean Taylor (@seantaylorpress)if the Premier League is off, the will almost certainly follow. https://t.co/9KlfuHtuYa
— Samantha Lewis (@battledinosaur)Tune in to Xaviball this weekend then. You might learn a thing or two 🍽 https://t.co/u2N5isUkOK pic.twitter.com/hD25w3ixzK
— The Ill Intent (@ZeroRequiem__)Wont bring her back what's the point? pic.twitter.com/BwWowPSLNJ https://t.co/kbWHO9F6Wo
— ' (@qai_ab)Klopp ball is not gonna ruin my weekend 😮💨 https://t.co/5Wb0RCt54H pic.twitter.com/KtgghB0YoR
— Ala$andro (@losingagrip)My ancestors weren't enough for her, she just had to add me to her torture list as well https://t.co/WU9HY3AXAz pic.twitter.com/hIKBtLK9SZ
— The boi who cried Teta😌 (@mzi_mlilo)Liverpool can’t lose this weekend if they don’t play https://t.co/hB5WeaV87d pic.twitter.com/7YuX270I3A
— lavender baj (@lavosaurus)This is the wrong decision imo. People's lives have been put on hold enough over the last few years, and live sport is a tonic for many. As others have pointed out, the Queen loved sport herself. Haven't spoken to any fan who supported a postponement https://t.co/jvXFyPSoEg
— Liam Corless (@liamcorless)Canceling sport to pay respect to a sport-loving monarch feels strange. Communal gatherings - stadiums full of fans honoring her memory, as they did so movingly at West Ham last night - seems a better way of dealing with collective grief. https://t.co/smEEOwvwX8
— Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY)Idiotic decision. https://t.co/RGVvyy4bK2
— Rory Jennings 🍊🦩 (@Chelsearory)a really quite negative reaction to this, if anyone wants an insight into the "national mood" https://t.co/2RukJ1SV1M
— Luke Bailey (@imbadatlife)Me getting this notification https://t.co/n94RVkXYRp pic.twitter.com/XhDUzYCOSX
— Logan 🏴 (@CFClogan_QOTS)The wrong decision.
So many people will lose out financially. Fans who’ve booked travel & accommodation, businesses who rely on match day trade and casual workers who’ll lose a day’s pay. None of them will be compensated for it. https://t.co/WWjlbykFkk
This is a ridiculous decision that makes no sense. Government said they were happy for fixtures to be played too. Serves no purpose whatsoever. Bring people together to celebrate her life. What is the point of 100,000s of people being forced to stay at home? https://t.co/96900E8c2r
— Sam Pilger (@sampilger)Ridiculous. Yet to see a single explanation of why these games being played - with armbands and minutes' silences etc - would've been 'disrespectful' https://t.co/OxaGh1rF9B
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5)COME BACK TO LIFE EliZABETH https://t.co/plEFrXha0f pic.twitter.com/rrqGCcdU0R
— Evan (@UTDevann)I absolutely understand a mark of respect in circumstances like this, but surely cancelling games then disrespects so many other people who have made plans, bought tickets, paid for travel/hotels – as well as all the people whose livelihoods revolve around football. https://t.co/7cz2Sqvf6d
— arseblog (@arseblog)I think it would have been more appropriate for games to go ahead, with a minute’s silence/applause, black arm bands and the national anthem. Still waiting on to decide on the men’s test and women’s T20I. https://t.co/Y4v3BIIWqS
— Nikesh Rughani (@NikeshRughani)Disagree with this. There are ways to pay respects which sport has always done excellently - but putting a hard stop on life which will have a knock on effect to thousands isn’t the way for me. https://t.co/iZikz6GYWe
— Chris Cooper (@coopsrun)Millions of people's lives will now be inconvenienced this weekend out of a sense of duty to an archaic undemocratic institution. It's incredible that so many people still support the monarchy. https://t.co/Qeh2ff0LGE
— Richard Martin (@Rich9908)With all due respect, this is just ridiculous. Life has to go on https://t.co/n10UtpxxGX
— Zah (@DaMidgetZimbo)