Sport’s governing bodies across the UK are free to make their own decisions about whether to continue following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 on Thursday.
The UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport held a meeting on Friday morning and concluded that there was no obligation to cancel or postpone events this weekend, leaving the decisions to individual sports organisations.
Some have stepped in already to cancel their programme this weekend, such as the Premier League, Women’s Super League, and the English Football League.
The Scottish FA, Welsh FA and Irish FA have also intervened by postponing matches as a mark of respect to the Queen.
Saturday’s blockbuster fight at The O2 between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall has been postponed until October 15.
However, the Great North Run is going ahead with its major race, and the St Leger in Doncaster will now be held on Sunday, owing to horse racing deciding to cancel its Saturday racecards.
Sportsmail provides all the details on what is going ahead, and what isn’t, this weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral.
Sports are announcing their weekend plans, or cancellations, after the death of the Queen
Football
There are widespread football cancellations across the home nations for this weekend.
In England, the Premier League has confirmed the cancellation of all 10 matches planned for this matchweek across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The Premier League released a statement announcing the decision to postpone their fixtures
All EFL games across the Championship, League One and League Two have also been postponed for this weekend. It follows the initial cancellation of two fixtures on Friday.
The FA has cancelled all fixtures for this weekend, including the opening games of the new WSL season, as well as matches in the Barclay’s Women’s Championship, Women’s FA Cup and the FA Trophy.
The National League has also cancelled their programme of fixtures for Saturday and Sunday across steps one to six, the Women’s Football Pyramid has been canned from steps three to seven, and grassroots football matches in England have also been postponed to mark the death of the Queen.
The Scottish FA, Scottish Professional Football League, Scottish Women’s Premier League and Highland & Lowland Leagues have agreed that all professional football matches will be postponed this weekend as a mark of respect.
The Irish FA announced on Friday that all football in Northern Ireland scheduled for this weekend will not take place.
FA Wales have announced that games from the 9th to the 12th of September have been postponed.
Europa League and Europa Conference League matches continued on Thursday with pre-match tributes at Old Trafford and the London Stadium.
The Premier League and English Football League have postponed this weekend’s fixtures
Cricket
Friday’s play between England and South Africa men at The Oval, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, will not take place.
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed all cricket will resume on Saturday in order to pay tribute to Elizabeth II. England’s Test will therefore go ahead, as well as England Women’s T20 match against India at the Riverside in Durham. Recreational cricket is also permitted.
Rugby Union
The RFU has issued official guidance saying that the sport can take place at all levels this weekend, as part of rugby union’s core belief of togetherness in good times and bad.
Only one Premiership Rugby game has been cancelled, while a second has been pushed back 24 hours to Saturday. All the others remain on the schedule across the coming weekend.
Sale Sharks against Northampton Saints on Friday night has been postponed – just 24 hours after Northampton’s Premiership Rugby Cup match against Saracens was canned shortly after the announcement of the Queen’s death on Thursday evening.
Bristol Bears against Bath Rugby – initially meant for Friday evening – has been moved to a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday, following the decision of the Premiership board.
Other matches for Saturday and Sunday will go ahead as scheduled, with a minute’s silence and black armbands to be used as clubs and supporters pay tribute to the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Scottish Rugby Union has postponed all domestic competitive games this weekend as a mark of respect and the women’s summer Test international between Scotland and Spain on Sunday is also off.
Rugby League
The Super League has confirmed that the Betfred Super League Eliminator between Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils will take place at 1pm on Saturday as scheduled. There will be a moment of silence, the playing of the national anthem, and players will wear black armbands.
The RFL postponed Friday’s Betfred Championship fixture between Sheffield Eagles and Dewsbury Rams. Further announcements about the weekend’s fixtures at all levels were set to be made “as soon as possible”, the governing body said.
Golf
Play at the BMW PGA Championship will continue on Saturday, as confirmed by MailSport reporter Riath Al-Samarrai on Twitter. Play was suspended on Thursday evening, and there was no play on Friday, but they will return for the weekend.
Horse racing
Horse racing was a much loved passion of the Queen. Events were cancelled for Friday and Saturday, while evening cards at Southwell and Chelmsford on Thursday were abandoned after the news of her death was confirmed around 6.30pm.
On Sunday, racing returns, led with the St Leger in a revised nine-race programme at Doncaster racecourse.
Sunday’s card at Chepstow in Wales will also proceed as normal, but Musselburgh in Scotland has been cancelled because the Queen’s body will be lying in rest in Edinburgh.
The Queen’s horse King’s Lynn has not been declared for the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, after being initially entered.
Athletics
The Great North Run, the world’s largest half-marathon, will take place on Sunday. Organisers cancelled its 5k sister event on Friday, but they have decided to go ahead with the major race, which could raise up to £25million for charities.
However, Richmond RUN-FEST has been postponed, because their route would take runners through two locations owned in part by Historic Royal Palaces and a floral tribute to Elizabeth in the Royal Borough’s Old Deer Park.
Cycling
The Tour of Britain was cancelled on Thursday evening. The final stages, set to finish in the Isle of Wight on Sunday, were unable to continue after police were recalled to London.
Boxing
Saturday’s proposed blockbuster at The O2 between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall has been postponed until October 15. The weigh-in was moved behind closed doors, before the decision was taken to cancel Saturday’s event and reschedule.
Ice Hockey
Premier Sports Elite League Ice Hockey will begin tonight as previously planned, following a board meeting. Fixtures will start with a two-minute silence for the Queen, followed by the playing of the national anthem.
Sporting events continue around the world, and those outside the UK have made their own efforts to honour the remarkable reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Formula 1
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza will go ahead as scheduled, with a minute’s silence held before first free practice on Friday, and another expected on the grid before the race itself at 2pm UK time on Sunday.
Formula 1 held a minute’s silence in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II at Monza on Friday
Tennis
The US Open held a brief tribute to the Queen during the women’s semi-finals in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night in New York.
With Brits Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski on either side of the net for the men’s double’s final on Friday, the pair are expected to wear black armbands to mark the Queen’s passing. Salisbury and his American partner Rajeev Ram face Skupski and Dutchman Wesley Koolhof at 5pm UK time.
An image of Queen Elizabeth II was displayed on the big screen inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium
Rugby League
The first Super League elimination play-off between Catalans Dragons and Leeds will go ahead, as it is taking place in Perpignan, France. Both teams will observe a minute’s silence and wear black armbands for the match.
The Great Britain Community Lions will show their respect before facing France in the final of the European Under-19s Championships in Italy on Saturday.
Ice Hockey
Belfast Giants are in Champions Hockey League action on Friday evening in Switzerland against HC Davos. The team are currently working on a suitable mark of respect to honour the Queen.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
