Football cancelled

Manchester City Fans Foodbank expects to lose up to 250kg of donations this weekend after the cancellation of football fixtures throughout the pyramid.

We would encourage anyone who had planned to donate to a food drive that has now been cancelled to consider contacting their local food bank and making a donation directly.” We have made a donation to Manchester Central Foodbank to try to replace a small amount of the food and essentials we would have collected.” Food drives organised by football supporters, as well as other groups in the community, play a vital part in ensuring food banks can provide emergency food parcels to people who are experiencing hardship. Concerns have also been raised for casual workers including stewards and kiosk staff who could miss out on income due to last-minute shift cancellations, a situation exacerbated by the cost of living crisis. Any potential travel reimbursement for fans, meanwhile, will be the responsibility of providers. This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation, but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her, and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.”

The game has often led the way in showing respect and solidarity to others and postponing matches will cause economic harm to many.

It’s difficult not to ask whether it is purely about public relations, and potential criticism for not postponing. The Department of Culture, Sport and Media issued new guidance on national mourning and specifically stated “there is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures… There’s then the most absurd of decision of all - the cancellation of football for kids and schools. There was a darkly absurd moment during Manchester United’s Europa League match when commentators repeatedly referred to fans having things other than football on their mind, only for some abrasive chants about the owners, the Glazers, to start up. The Football Supporters Association have Clubs themselves might have had to take a hit on cancellation at 25% of fees, which may not be an issue for the Premier League, but is a big problem outside it. That was despite other sports playing on, and the fact that there were a lot of serious elements to respectfully consider. Tens of thousands of fans had, meanwhile, made travel plans, with the Premier League’s very international popularity ensuring a good number of those would have come from abroad. It is ludicrous, undermining all of the messages about physical activity, especially as so many other sports persist. This meant an entire economy of freelance workers, casuals and employees on zero-hour contracts being told they would be working, that number into the thousands across the game. The decision was nothing to do with a lack of policing, something that could be an issue before the funeral next weekend, potentially causing a second successive week of postponed fixtures. It was purely, to quote a few sources, about “respect”.

THE death of The Queen has seen the cancellation of nearly professional and amateur football matches in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Respects would have been paid & i’m pretty certain that this is what our late Queen would have wished for. Some people's only joy of the week is going to see their mates before the football and having a good day, now nothing to look forward to at the weekend, very poor from the SFA.— The Hearts Zone (@TheHeartsZone) Mirren has been called off due to the passing of the Queen. There’s a lack of free thought with our governing bodies and they’ve followed suit with English football who have also misjudged the mood. [September 9, 2022] Well done [September 9, 2022]

The Queen was a long-standing patron of the FA with chief executive Mark Bullingham advocating postponements in cross-sport talks.

"They are under no obligation to do so and this is entirely at the discretion of individual organisations. “As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the state funeral,” the guidance added. All racecourses racing from Sunday and over the mourning period will continue to mark the Queen’s passing with tributes on-course. "As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the state funeral," the guidance adds. Arsenal [were playing at FC Zurich](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/09/08/europa-league-fc-zurich-vs-arsenal-live-score-europa-league/) when the Queen's death was announced. Fixtures taking place in the intervening period were advised to pay appropriate respects, however. [their Europa League fixture against Real Sociedad](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/09/08/man-utd-vs-real-sociedad-live-score-europa-league-latest-updates/). Gary Neville and Peter Crouch were among former players critical of this weekend’s cancellation, but the FSA recognised the game had faced a tough decision. The decision put pressure on an already tight schedule, with the first winter World Cup having necessitated a compressed early part of the season. Bristol and Bath, scheduled to play on Friday night are now due to meet at 5.30pm, while Sale and Northampton goes ahead on Sunday at 3pm. FA chair Debbie Hewitt said: “This is a great example of football working in unity. In rugby league, Saturday’s Super League play-off between Huddersfield and Salford is also set to go ahead.

The Premier League and English Football League have cancelled this weekend's fixtures following the death of the Queen despite the UK government stating ...

Bristol Bears against Bath Rugby has been postponed from Friday evening to a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday, following the decision of the Premiership board. The US Open held a brief tribute to the Queen during the women's semi-finals on Thursday night in New York. Horse racing was a much loved passion of the Queen. Play at the BMW PGA Championship was also stopped following the news. Our view, which we shared with the football authorities, is that most supporters would have like to go to games this weekend and pay their respect to the Queen alongside their fellow fans.’ Additionally, Friday's Tour of Britain stage was cancelled straight after the announcement. Play at the BMW PGA Championship was stopped following the news. The Premier League and EFL confirmed their matches will be postponed, with details on further games during the period of mourning and rearrangements to follow. Several sporting events had already been cancelled prior to the guidance. The FA confirmed all fixtures in their competitions, including the opening weekend of the Women’s Super League, non-League and grassroots football will also no longer go ahead. 'This is at the discretion of individual organisations. The Football Supporters Association believe it would have been a good chance for fans to pay respects to the Queen if games had gone ahead this weekend.

ALL NON-LEAGUE and grassroots football has been cancelled this weekend "as a mark of respect" to Queen Elizabeth II. · Premier League matches postponed after ...

"Further to this morning’s statement by Debbie Hewitt, chair of The Football Association, all National League System, FA Trophy, and grassroots fixtures scheduled for this weekend will not take place as a mark of respect. The League fully supports this stance." It is also believed no grassroots football - or any other sporting fixtures - will take place on the day of [Queen Elizabeth II's](/latest/queen) funeral, details of which are yet to be announced.