Racing, football and cricket off – and rest of sport could follow as nation mourns

Sporting events across Britain have been cancelled following the death of the Queen, with emergency talks taking place today to decide whether weekend fixtures should be called off.

Martyn Ziegler, Elizabeth Ammon, Alex Lowe and Rob Wright

3 min read

September 9, 2022 - 9:00AM

Players and supporters at the London Stadium pay their respects to the Queen with a minute’s silence before West Ham’s match last night. Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images

Football

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The Premier League and EFL are considering calling off all weekend games while there will be no play in England’s deciding Test against South Africa at The Oval today (Friday). All race meetings have also been cancelled. A decision on the remainder of the Test has still to be made but there is the possibility it could be extended by a day - there will be refunds for ticket holders.

In golf, play at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth was suspended yesterday (Thursday), with no play today (Friday) either.

Stokes’s side will not line up at the Oval on Friday – though a decision has yet to be made on play over the weekend. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The EFL announced that tonight’s (Friday’s) games - Burnley against Norwich City and Tranmere Rovers against Stockport County - have been postponed. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is holding a meeting this morning with sport bodies but the message will be that it is for them to decide on fixtures over the weekend. There will be no obligation or advice to cancel fixtures or events but just to get the tone right in terms of paying respects.

However there could be external pressure for matches to be postponed, given the possible issues around policing in London with large crowds expected at Buckingham Palace. Some club chiefs are worried there may also be sensitivities around sporting events taking place on Sunday given that the Queen was the head of the Church of England. Several football and rugby matches and the Great North Run are due to take place on Sunday.

Racing at Southwell and Chelmsford was abandoned last night (Thursday) and the British Horseracing Authority also announced that the meetings scheduled for today (Friday) - including the third day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster - were cancelled.

A halftime tribute to the Queen was held during Arsenal’s win in Zurich. Picture: Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

An announcement will be made today (Friday) regarding plans for tomorrow (Saturday) - the Leger at Doncaster is the showpiece event as the final British Classic of the season.

The BHA said in a statement: “All of British racing is in mourning today (Friday) following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.

“Her Majesty has been one of the greatest and most influential supporters in the history of horse racing. Her passion for racing and the racehorse shone brightly throughout her life, not only through her close involvement in breeding and racing horses, but in her roles as a patron of The Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and as the figurehead of Royal Ascot.

“It is right, therefore, that all racing is suspended for today (Friday) as we begin to grieve Her Majesty’s passing and remember her extraordinary life and contribution to our sport and our nation.”

Racing has also been cancelled for Friday but the St Leger Stakes could still go ahead on Saturday. Picture: Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images

Last night’s (Thursday’s) Premiership Rugby Cup match between Northampton Saints and Saracens was called off and a decision will be made today (Friday) regarding tonight’s (Friday’s) season-opening Gallagher Premiership games between Bristol Bears and Bath, and Sale Sharks and Northampton Saints.

One factor in any decision the ECB makes regarding the Test will be that the land the Kia Oval sits on is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, which is why Surrey play with the Prince of Wales’ three feathers on their badge.

The ECB said in a statement: “Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Friday’s play between England and South Africa at The Oval, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, will not take place.

“For fixtures beyond Friday, updates will be provided in due course.”

The first day of the deciding Test against South Africa was abandoned yesterday (Thursday).

Rain was intermittent throughout the day in Kennington and was heavy enough that even when there was a two-hour dry period, the umpires would not let play commence because of concerns about dampness on the bowlers’ run-ups.

The Queen’s affinity for sport extended from racing to rugby. Picture: Pool Merillon/RAT/Stevens/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

The US Open tennis tournament paid tribute to the Queen with a moment of silence and a photo montage before the first women’s semi-final yesterday (Thursday) evening.

In Switzerland, FC Zurich announced the Queen’s death and held a moment of silence before the second half in their Europa League group-stage defeat by Arsenal.

Manchester United’s home clash with Real Sociedad went ahead with the club saying in a statement: “Following direction from the FA and Uefa, tonight’s (Friday’s) Uefa Europa League fixture against Real Sociedad will take place as planned at Old Trafford.”

West Ham also played Romanian side FCSB in their scheduled Europa Conference League match, with the players wearing black armbands and a minute’s silence being held before kick-off.

The BBC dropped its coverage of the Diamond League athletics final in Zurich to run programs commemorating the Queen.

-The Times

Originally published as Racing, football and cricket off – and rest of sport could follow as nation mourns