The Premier League has announced that all of this weekend’s matches have been postponed to honor Queen Elizabeth II following her death at the age of 96 on Thursday. The FA has confirmed that all football across the country will be cancelled, including EFL matches and the start of the new WSL season, as well as matches in the Barclay Women’s Championship, FA Women’s Cup and FA Trophy. The National League also canceled the fixture list for Saturday and Sunday in stages one to six and grassroots football matches in England were also postponed to mark the Queen’s death. The government earlier advised that no sporting events should take place this weekend – or the day of the Queen’s funeral – but left the final decision to individual organisations. The Scottish FA, Scottish Professional Football League, Scottish Women’s Premier League and Highland & Lowland Leagues have agreed that all professional football matches will be postponed this weekend as a mark of respect. The FA Wales have announced that matches from 9th to 12th September have been postponed. 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 Irish FA has announced that all football in Northern Ireland scheduled for this weekend will not be played. All Premier League 2 matches have been cancelled, as well as the Championship match between Burnley and Norwich. Tonight’s League Two match between Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County has also been postponed. 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 England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Friday that all cricket will resume on Saturday – including England’s match against South Africa and England’s women’s T20 match against India.
Rugby Union 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. Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby has been postponed from Friday afternoon for a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday evening following a decision by the Premiership Board. Saturday’s remaining Premiership rugby matches will go ahead. 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.
However, organizers later revealed they plan to resume at Wentworth this weekend, pending guidance from Buckingham Palace. 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. Boxing The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) said all fights on Friday will not go ahead as planned. The undisputed middleweight showdown between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall at the 02 Arena has been postponed to October 15.
Tennis The US Open held a brief tribute to the queen during the women’s semifinals Thursday night in New York. With Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski on either side of the net for Friday’s men’s doubles final, the pair are expected to wear black armbands to mark the Queen’s passing.
Horse racing Horse racing was a very favorite passion of the Queen. Events were canceled for Friday and Saturday, while afternoon cards at Southwell and Chelmsford on Thursday were abandoned after news of her death was confirmed at around 6.30pm.
On Sunday, racing returns, with the St Leger on a revised nine-race schedule at Doncaster Racecourse. Sunday’s card in Chepstow, Wales, will also go ahead as normal, but Musselburgh in Scotland has been canceled because the Queen’s body will be laid to rest in Edinburgh. The Queen’s horse King’s Lynn has not been entered for the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland on Sunday after being originally entered. Sport The Great North Run, the world’s largest half marathon, will take place on Sunday. Organizers canceled his 5k sister event on Friday. The Richmond RUN-FEST was postponed because their route would have taken runners to two sites that are part of Historic Royal Palaces and a floral tribute to Elizabeth at the Royal Borough’s Old Deer Park. 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. Ice hockey Premier Sports Elite League ice hockey will resume tonight as previously scheduled, following a board meeting. The matches will begin with a two-minute silence for the Queen, followed by the playing of the national anthem.