Horse racing was halted on Thursday following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, while Friday’s Test cricket match between England and South Africa was cancelled. All Friday match fixtures in Britain have also been cancelled, along with the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy cricket matches on the same day. The second day of PGA Championship golf on Friday will not take place. The English Football League also postponed its two games for Friday. This weekend’s Premier League and English Football League matches have been postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It is set to be the opening weekend of the Women’s Super League and Premiership rugby season, with the Great North Run set to take place on Sunday. The Irish FA has announced that all football in Northern Ireland scheduled for this weekend will not be played. The government’s national mourning guidance states that the cancellation or postponement of sporting events is not mandatory and “at the discretion of individual organisations”, including on the day of the state funeral. On the day of the funeral, the guidelines indicate that events could be rescheduled so they do not conflict with service times and that organizers could hold a period of silence or play the National Anthem at the events, with the players to wear black armbands. Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch, has died aged 96, after 70 years of reign. Following the announcement, the Southwell race meeting was suspended after the second race and Chelmsford after the fourth race. The British Horseracing Authority is likely to make a decision on when racing will resume on Friday. Play was also abandoned at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. “Out of respect for Her Majesty and the Royal Family, play has been suspended at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club for the remainder of Thursday and flags at Wentworth Club will be at half-mast,” a European Tour Group statement said. “Additionally, no play will take place at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday and the golf course and practice facilities will be closed.” Organizers say they hope to restart the tournament at some stage over the weekend but will “review protocol guidelines from Buckingham Palace in addition to aligning with what other major UK sporting events are doing”. In football, Manchester United said their Europa League match against Real Sociedad went ahead “following the instructions of the Football Association and UEFA”. West Ham’s game against FCSB in the Europa Conference League also took place. Friday’s Scottish Championship match between Cove Rangers and Dundee has been postponed. Cycling’s Tour of Britain canceled its final three stages in Gloucestershire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, with Spain’s Gonzalo Serrano winning the race after holding on to his overall lead on Thursday’s fifth stage. “This decision was taken in consultation with stakeholders and partners in light of operational circumstances, including the understandable allocation of police resources at this time,” a statement said. “The Tour of Britain organisation, along with the teams, riders and officials involved in the event, send their deepest condolences to the royal family at this sad time.” In rugby union, Northampton have abandoned their Premiership Rugby Cup clash against Saracens scheduled for Thursday evening. Scotland’s women’s international test against Spain on Sunday has been called off and Scottish rugby has also postponed all domestic matches this weekend as a mark of respect. Friday’s weigh-in for the women’s world title fight between Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields will take place behind closed doors. Organizers Boxxer are expected to issue a statement later on the status of the fight, which is scheduled to take place at London’s O2 on Saturday. Formula 1 is planning a minute’s silence with all teams before practice on Friday for the Italian Grand Prix, with the race weekend continuing as planned. At the US Open tennis in New York, organizers said “to commemorate the death of Queen Elizabeth II” there would be “a moment of silence before the start of the first women’s semi-final match between Ons Jabeur and Caroline Garcia”.
