The match was due to be played at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday. UEFA said a new date for the match would be announced in due course. However, BBC Sport understands that Chelsea’s Champions League group stage match with Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday will go ahead as planned. European football’s governing body UEFA caters for all security needs to be met at Stamford Bridge. Around 3,000 PSV fans were expected at the match. In a UEFA statement announcing the postponement, it said: “This is due to severe constraints on police resources and organizational issues relating to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
EFL programs to restart
On Monday, it was announced that English Football League matches will return from Tuesday after football was suspended as a mark of respect following the Queen’s death. Tributes will be paid to the Queen – who died on Thursday – at the stadium, and there will be a minute’s silence before the games and the playing of the national anthem. Black armbands will be worn and flags will be flown at half mast. All English, Welsh and Northern Irish football and Scottish football were postponed over the weekend. National League matches will be played from Monday, but the Premier League has yet to announce any matches to be played between September 16 and 18. In a statement, the EFL said it would “continue to work with the forces in relation to any challenges that may arise in relation to the policing of specific matches”. He added: “Individual circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the standard protocols of the Advisory Group on Games Security.” There are six Championship games scheduled for Tuesday, along with the full League One and League Two schedules. There are six more Championship games on Wednesday. The policing games could be a factor in the decisions if the force moves to London before the Queen’s funeral on Monday, September 19. On Sunday, a spokesman for the National Council of Chief Police Officers said: “UK Police work closely with other organizations to ensure that events are held safely and with appropriate security. “Following the decisions by the Premier League and the English Football League to cancel this weekend’s matches, we will be working with football clubs to try to ensure that, wherever possible, football matches can be played safely when balanced with the demand for support national events and daily policing. “This is a unique situation and we are working closely with everyone involved.” Football will resume in Northern Ireland on Monday, while Welsh football will restart on Tuesday. On Monday, the Football Association (FA) confirmed that the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship – expected to kick off last weekend – will go ahead as planned, as well as grassroots football. In a statement, the FA said: “All matches played at the stadiums are subject to the leagues and clubs working with the relevant authorities to conduct these matches as usual. “We will be recommending that clubs, leagues and competitions across the country observe a minute’s silence before matches and wear black armbands where possible.” The FA also confirmed that all matches scheduled for September 19 – the day of the Queen’s funeral – will be postponed.
What about other European games?
UEFA has already moved Rangers’ home Champions League game against Napoli from Tuesday to Wednesday, “due to severe constraints on police resources and organizational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II”. Meanwhile, Tottenham have confirmed their Champions League tie away to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday is “going ahead as planned”, while Liverpool host Ajax at Anfield on the same day and Celtic travel to Poland to face Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Manchester City’s home Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday is still set to go ahead, as is Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova on Thursday. In the Europa Conference League, West Ham are away to Danish side Silkeborg on Thursday, while Hearts travel to Latvian side Rigas Futbola Skola.
