English football chiefs have been criticised for postponing all matches this weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with the decision labelled a “missed opportunity” to pay tribute to the nation’s longest-serving monarch.
After the Queen died aged 96 on Thursday, the Premier League opted to cancel this weekend’s fixtures in consultation with the British government.
Football chiefs were told by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on Friday that there was no obligation to cancel or postpone sporting fixtures during the national mourning period.
But the Premier League felt it was the right move to honour the Queen for her “extraordinary life and contribution to the nation”.
The second-tier Championship, as well as Leagues One and Two, followed the Premier League in postponing this weekend’s matches.
It was not just professional football as all amateur Saturday and Sunday leagues across the UK, including youth football, were called off.
Manchester United, West Ham and Arsenal had all paid tribute to the Queen by wearing black armbands and holding a minute’s silence in their European matches on Thursday evening.
West Ham fans even sang ‘God save the Queen’ throughout their match against FCSB at the London Stadium.
The opportunity for a similar show of respect from the rest of English football has been denied by the postponements.
Fans were equally frustrated at being denied the opportunity to pay tribute to the Queen.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, who was involved in Friday’s meetings with Government, defended the decision.
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