All English Premier League matches have been canceled this weekend in honor of Queen Elizabeth.
On Tuesday evening, matches resume – at least in the lower divisions.
The English Football League (EFL) said England’s second, third and fourth leagues – the Championship, League One and League Two – were given the green light to resume on Tuesday night.
However, to honor the memory of Queen Elizabeth, who died Thursday after 70 years on the throne, all matches will begin with a minute of silence and players will wear black mourning squads. In addition, half-mast flags will be raised, and the national anthem will be played in the stadiums.
Not clear with the major leagues
The Football Association wrote in a statement: “Plays in the English Football League will resume as scheduled on Tuesday 13th September, at the same time that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be honored in stadiums across the country.”
A similar announcement has yet to be made for the Premier League’s men’s team, the English Premier League. The next round begins on Friday and what stands in the way of the matches, the Daily Mirror among others writes, is the potential for police presence at matches, as police from across the country head to London to prepare for the Queen’s funeral on Monday.
The women’s leagues, led by the Premier League, did not provide any updates on this week’s matches.
Several sports are affected
At the Men’s European Games, it has already been decided that Glasgow Rangers’ Champions League match this week against Napoli, from Tuesday to Wednesday, will be moved. There is also uncertainty surrounding Chelsea’s Champions League match at home to RB Salzburg in London on Wednesday, and Arsenal’s Europa League match against PSV Eindhoven the following day in the same city.
Football is just one of the many sports whose calendars have been affected by the Queen’s death. The cricket match between England and South Africa has been cancelled, as has the European PGA Championship golf tournament, which is played at Wentworth in England.