Decisions on further postponements in the calendar will be determined after consideration of the official bereavement instructions, which will be issued by the Cabinet Office. However, it is understood that it will be left to sporting event organizers to decide how to proceed and postponements will not be mandatory. A meeting with representatives of sports bodies and the government is scheduled for Friday morning. Here are the matches and events that have been affected by the news.
Football
Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Real Sociedad at Old Trafford and West Ham’s Europa Conference League clash with FCSB at the London Stadium took place on Thursday afternoon with pre-match specials. The Football League of Northern Ireland has announced that Friday night’s games between Cliftonville and Glentoran and Larne and Dungannon have been postponed. The English Football League also confirmed that Friday night’s Championship game between Burnley and Norwich and the League Two game between Tranmere and Stockport have been postponed, while no decision has yet been made on Saturday’s games. The Scottish Professional Football League has announced that Friday evening’s Championship clash between Dundee and Cove Rangers has been called off. The Premier League will hold an emergency meeting with the EFL on Friday morning to decide whether to postpone the weekend’s fixtures.
Cricket
Friday’s game between England men and South Africa at The Oval, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, will not take place. The remaining England v South Africa Test is likely to be cancelled. Northampton have announced the postponement of their Premiership Rugby Cup clash against Saracens scheduled for Thursday evening. The Scottish Rugby Union has postponed all domestic matches this weekend as a mark of respect and the women’s summer international between Scotland and Spain on Sunday is also off.
Rugby League
The RFL has postponed Friday’s Betfred Championship game between Sheffield Eagles and Dewsbury Rams, but the first Super League elimination game between Catalans Dragons and Leeds will go ahead as it takes place in Perpignan, France. Further announcements about the weekend’s fixtures at all levels were to be made “as soon as possible”, the governing body said.
Golf
Play was suspended for the day at the BMW PGA Championship and there will be no play on Friday.
Formula 1
Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled with a minute’s silence scheduled before Friday practice and another expected before the race.
Horse racing
The games at Southwell and Chelmsford on Thursday night were abandoned. The British Equestrian Authority also announced that meetings scheduled for Friday – including the third day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster – were also cancelled.
Sport
The Great North Run, the world’s largest half marathon, is scheduled for Sunday. Organizers canceled the 5k’s sister event on Friday, with a decision on the main race expected on Friday.
Cycling
Friday’s Tour of Britain stage was immediately canceled and later on Thursday afternoon the rest of the Tour, which was due to finish in the Isle of Wight on Sunday, was canceled altogether.
