Sport cancelled LIVE: Cricket and golf resume but Marshall vs Shields off as Premier League postpones fixtures
The Premier League and EFL postponed all professional football in England this weekend as a mark of respect
The Premier League and EFL cancelled their fixtures this weekend as professional football in England will be postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
As the UK enters a period of national mourning, other sports are also making a decision as to whether they will postpone their events this weekend. Decisions regarding further postponements in the calendar are set to be determined following consideration of official mourning guidance, set to be issued by the Cabinet Office, but it is understood it will be left to individual sports event organisers to decide how to proceed - with postponements not being mandatory.
On Thursday evening, following the announcement from Buckingham Palace, the BMW PGA Championship golf event at Wentworth was immediately suspended and Friday’s play cancelled, although the tournament will resume on Saturday and be played over 54 holes. Meanwhile, the ECB also called off day two of the England vs South Africa Test match at the Oval, which was scheduled for Friday, before England captain Ben Stokes urged the rest of the match to be played in “the Queen’s memory” and it was announced that it will indeed resume on Saturday.
The boxing world title fight between Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields at the O2 Arena on Saturday evening was postponed, while Friday night’s pair of Gallagher Premiership matches were called off, although the rest of the opening weekend of action in English rugby’s top flight will go ahead. Elsewhere, Friday and Saturday’s horse racing meetings in the UK have been cancelled and cycling’s Tour of Britain has been suspended but the F1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza will go ahead with a minute’s silence in honour of the Queen.
Follow all the latest updates on sport’s cancellations with our live blog below:
'Not good for fighters’ – Savannah Marshall trainer unhappy with late cancellation
Savannah Marshall’s trainer Peter Fury has expressed frustration over the timing of the cancellation of Saturday’s world middleweight title unification bout against Claressa Shields in London.
The British Boxing Board of Control made the decision to cancel all of this weekend’s scheduled tournaments out of respect to the Queen, with the historic all-female O2 Arena bill its most high-profile casualty.
The decision was announced almost two hours following the scheduled weigh-in for the contest, which promoters Boxxer had said would take place behind closed doors while the status of the contest remained in doubt.
Not good for fighters – Savannah Marshall trainer unhappy with late cancellation
Hartlepool’s Marshall was set to fight Claressa Shields in an historic bout at the O2 Arena in London.
BMW PGA Championship to resume on Saturday as 54-hole event after death of Queen
The BMW PGA Championship will resume on Saturday following the postponement of play after the death of the Queen at the age of 96.
Buckingham Palace announced the news on Thursday evening and play in the first round at Wentworth was immediately suspended with 30 players on the course.
The course and practice facilities were closed on Friday, but play will restart at 6.40am on Saturday with the tournament reduced to 54 holes. A two-minute period of silence will also be held at 9.50am on Saturday.
BMW PGA Championship to resume on Saturday as 54-hole event after death of Queen
Play in the first round at Wentworth was immediately suspended following Thursday’s announcement, with 30 players on the course.
Manchester City to pay casual workers in full after postponements
Manchester City will be paying any casual workers who were expecting to be on shift for their postponed men’s and women’s games this weekend.
Pep Guardiola‘ side were due to play Tottenham on Saturday while Gareth Taylor’s women’s team about to kick off their Women’s Super League campaign against Arsenal but both fixtures have been postponed to pay respects to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
City have acted so that anyone on a zero-hours contract who was set to work either game will be paid in full for the shift they were expecting to be working. In addition, any perishable food will be distributed to organisations in Manchester so as to try and waste as little as possible from the food that would have been served this weekend.
Tickets for either match that had been bought remain valid for whenever the games are rearranged, and refunds can also be requested if that is preferable.
Which sporting events have been affected following the death of the Queen?
Sporting events are being cancelled following the death of the Queen and more are expected to follow as a period of national mourning begins.
Decisions regarding further postponements in the calendar are set to be determined following consideration of official mourning guidance, set to be issued by the Cabinet Office.
However, it is understood it will be left to sports event organisers to decide how to proceed, and postponements will not be mandatory.
A meeting involving representatives from sports governing bodies and the Government is scheduled for Friday morning.
Here are the matches and events which have been affected by the news:
Which sporting events have been affected following the death of the Queen?
The Premier League will not go ahead this weekend
Football Supporters’ Association lament ‘opportunity missed’ to allow fans to show respect at matches
The Football Supporters’ Association has expressed regret at the decision of the Premier League, Football Association and other bodies of the sport to cancel fixtures this weekend as a mark of respect.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, meetings were held between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the relevant sporting organisations to discuss plans for marking the occasion with respectful gestures, with the guidance being that it was up to each sport in turn to decide how to do so.
While most sports such as cricket, rugby and golf have opted to continue playing, football’s governing bodies chose to postpone all fixtures across the major men’s and women’s leagues as well as grassroots games.
The choice has not been a universally popular one, to say the least, with the FSA responding to say that while they acknowledged the game faced a tough decision either way, they were confident fans would in the main have preferred to show respect by attending football matches and paying “special tribute” there.
FSA lament ‘opportunity missed’ to allow fans to show respect at matches
All games are off in England and Scotland, while other sports continue with fans set pay tribute to the Queen
WSL’s record attendances on hold
The Women’s Super League was preparing to kick off the 2022/23 season this weekend with huge attendances after clubs made record ticket sales following England’s victory at Euro 2022.
Tottenham were scheduled to host Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Chelsea were set to welcome West Ham to Stamford Bridge.
Tickets had also sold out for Manchester City’s fixture against Arsenal at the 7,000-capacity Academy Stadium on Sunday.
Reading have five times the amount of season ticket holders compared to last year, while reigning champions Chelsea sold out their 1,500 season tickets for the second season in a row.
All that is on hold as football’s governing bodies have put a halt to playing the sport from grassroots to the Premier League this weekend.
An amazing inspiration – England captains lead tributes to the Queen
England captains Harry Kane and Leah Williamson hailed the Queen as an “amazing inspiration” and “exceptional person” as they led the tributes following her death at the age of 96.
Buckingham Palace announced the news on Thursday evening.
Tottenham striker Kane tweeted: “My thoughts are with the Royal Family at this very difficult time.”
An amazing inspiration – England captains lead tributes to the Queen
Lionesses captain Leah Williamson said the Queen was “a constant presence of grace and decency”.
Cricket and rugby go ahead but football is postponed as the Queen is remembered
Sporting events including the England men’s cricket Test against South Africa will go ahead this weekend but football fixtures at all levels across the UK have been postponed as a mark of respect to Her Majesty The Queen.
Elizabeth II’s death at the age of 96 was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening.
Within hours of the announcement from the Palace, the England and Wales Cricket Board quickly confirmed Friday’s play in the match at The Oval would not take place, but said on Friday afternoon that play would resume on Saturday following Government guidance.
Cricket and rugby go ahead but football is postponed as the Queen is remembered
Elizabeth II’s death at the age of 96 was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening.
England vs South Africa now a three-day test
The ECB have confirmed that Saturday’s play at The Oval will be Day 3 of the third and final test between England and South Africa which is due to finish on Monday (Day 5).
A post from the official ECB Twitter account says: “We have been in discussions with CSA but they have to fly home on Tuesday to spend a few days at home before heading to India & Australia. Tomorrow (Saturday) is therefore confirmed as Day 3 of a 5-day Test.”
South Africa return home from England on 13th September and leave for a limited overs tour of India on 23rd September which is a quick turnaround and the players preferred to spend that time at home instead of extending their stay in the UK.
Queen Elizabeth II pictured at sporting events during her reign
Queen Elizabeth has died at the age of 96, it has been confirmed. The Queen famously presented the World Cup to England captain Bobby Moore in 1966.
She was also a fan of horse racing and attended the Royal Ascot meeting annually. Here is a collection of pictures from her time at sporting events during her reign:
The Queen pictured at sporting events during her reign
The Queen famously presented the World Cup to England captain Bobby Moore in 1966
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