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:
Horse racing postponed on Saturday
The British Horseracing Authority have announced that meetings scheduled for Saturday have also been cancelled but will resume on Sunday 11th. In a press release they announced:
“British racing remains in mourning today regarding the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
“As an ongoing mark of respect it has been determined that, alongside the cancellation of fixtures on 8th and 9th September, all racing will also be cancelled tomorrow, Saturday 10th September. Scheduled fixtures and racing events will return on Sunday 11th September.
“An additional day of racing at Doncaster will also be scheduled for Sunday 11th September, to ensure that the Cazoo St Leger and other important races lost as result of the cancellations can take place.
“However, the fixture scheduled for Musselburgh racecourse on Sunday will be cancelled as a mark of respect for the fact that the Queen’s body will be lying in rest in Edinburgh.”
Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as ‘a symbol of hope’
Sir Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as a “symbol of hope” and “truly like no other” following the death of the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.
Seven-time Formula One world champion Hamilton was knighted for services to motorsports in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List, and is preparing for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, which will go ahead on Sunday as planned.
A minute’s silence is set to take place before practice on Friday and another is expected ahead of the race.
Sir Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as ‘a symbol of hope’
The seven-time Formula One world champion was knighted last year
Talks ongoing to resume England vs South Africa test
There has been official word about the resumption of the third and final test match between England and South Africa at The Oval. The assumption is that the game would continue on Saturday but there are few different factors in play before a decision is made.
Railways offering fee-free ticket exchange
A scheme on the National Rail website is allowing travellers with advanced tickets to claim a fee-free voucher or a new booking for the same journey at a later date as long as they request a change in their booking by 6pm the day before their journey.
This ‘Book with Confidence’ scheme could be useful to any football fans who were planning a journey around the country this weekend now that the games have all been postponed.
This is the statement from the website including terms and conditions:
“The rail industry have introduced an easement to the terms & conditions of Advance tickets sold by rail retailers, to help you travel with confidence if your travel plans change.
“You can amend when you travel fee-free up until 6pm the day before you travel.
“Applies to Advance tickets purchased until 30 September 2022. Fare price difference may apply. Advance tickets purchased online can be exchanged for a voucher for future journey. See Terms & Conditions below for details.
“Check with your ticket retailer to find out if they are participating in the Book with Confidence scheme.
“Book with Confidence Terms & Conditions: Advance tickets can be exchanged to travel on the same journey but at a different time or date, paying any difference in fare but fee-free or surrendered back to the retailer for a rail travel voucher which can be used on any future journey or purchase within 12 months.
“Changes must be requested no later than 6pm (18:00) the day before you are due to travel. After this, Advance tickets can still be changed up to the departure of the first booked train for a fee of no more than £10 per ticket.”
Sporting events cancelled on Friday as mark of respect after Queen dies at 96
Sporting events scheduled for Friday have been cancelled as a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
The death of Elizabeth II, 96, who was the nation’s longest-reigning monarch and served as head of state for more than 70 years, was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday,
Tributes poured in from sports governing bodies and personalities, and the England and Wales Cricket Board announced the second day’s play in the men’s Test match between England and South Africa had been cancelled.
Sporting events cancelled on Friday as mark of respect after Queen dies at 96
The Queen’s death was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
Commonwealth sport mourns the loss of the Queen at age of 96
In October 2021, Queen Elizabeth II placed a secret message inside the Commonwealth Games baton and handed it to British four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox.
It marked the start of a 294-day, 140,000-kilometre journey from Buckingham Palace to Birmingham, through 72 nations and territories.
The baton’s tour began in the hands of Her Majesty and ended in those of her son, now King Charles III, who stepped in for the Queen, Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), at July’s opening ceremony.
Dame Louise Martin now holds the role of CGF president, a title held by the late Prince Philip for more than 30 years. Hers was one of many tributes that poured in as news of the Queen’s death broke across the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth sport mourns the loss of the Queen at age of 96
The Queen’s reign included 18 editions of the Commonwealth Games
Great North Run goes ahead
Sunday’s Great North Run will go ahead in Newcastle, race organisers have announced. Their statement reads:
“The event has traditionally been a celebration of the extraordinary achievements of ordinary people, this year it will be an opportunity for us to come together and express our condolences, while celebrating the life of our extraordinary Queen.
“The thousands of runners taking part are expected to raise £25million in much needed charitable donations, a fitting tribute to the Queen, who lived her lif in service to our country and its people.”
Is postponing football the correct call?
The truth is there is no right or wrong answer here and instead a multitude of factors are in play. Here is a thread from The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney talking about the decision from the Premier League, EFL, FA and SPFL.
Uefa competitions to continue?
Uefa has published a media schedule for next week’s fixtures in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League showing that there are no plans of postponing those matches.
Given the fixtures feature teams from across the continent a postponent was never likely and as of now those fixtures are expected to go ahead including the ones featuring teams from the UK.
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