Britain’s most prestigious public school, which has had long-standing links with the royal family, hosted Rossall School just hours after the suspension of games from the Premier League down to grassroots level. Photos from Saturday’s matches appeared in a Twitter post from @RossallSport, which showed a minute’s silence being observed before kick-off in honor of the country’s longest-serving monarch. The post was later deleted, as was an earlier one on Facebook and Twitter documenting a visit by Rossall’s footballers to Windsor Castle en route to nearby Eton. Among those sounding the alarm was Peter Daly, who runs men’s football club Talking Toffees FC and an associated podcast. He told Telegraph Sport: “While kids up and down the country couldn’t play football this weekend, it seems the same rules don’t apply to Eton. “It’s the latest example of how the privileged have a complete disregard for the rules we’re all supposed to follow.” Julian Knight MP, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee, said it was up to individual sports to decide whether to postpone matches, but added: “It seems very strange that Eton is choosing to play while millions across the country have refused to play or watch games. This is a rather embarrassing episode for Britain’s most prestigious public school.” Eton said in a statement: “Everyone at Eton College mourns the death of Her Majesty The Queen, remembers with gratitude her outstanding service and offers their deepest sympathy and condolences to the Royal Family. The whole school gathered on Friday morning to pay their respects and services were held in the chapel. “Two friendly football matches were played with Rossall School on Saturday. A minute’s silence was observed by players and spectators beforehand. These trial matches formed part of the school’s pre-season training program and it was understood that they were not covered by the FA postponement as they were not FA matches.” The Telegraph has been told that the FA, the Independent Schools Football Association and the English Schools’ Football Association have no jurisdiction over such matches. Eton was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI and both the new Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex attended. Rossall, a private boarding school based near Fleetwood, Lancashire, was founded in 1844. The cancellation of elite and grassroots football – and particularly youth games – following the death of the late Queen has proved highly controversial. The opposite decision was made in rugby, cricket and most other sports.
