LONDON – Three Premier League games scheduled for the weekend were canceled on Monday on security grounds as authorities prepare for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Manchester United’s home games against Leeds and Liverpool’s against Chelsea, due to take place on Sunday, were postponed. Brighton’s home game against Crystal Palace will continue to be postponed after it was canceled due to a transport strike that it will not take place.
With this, the program for the next day will be reduced to seven duels. All the meetings of this day – between Saturday and Monday – were postponed as a form of respect after the death of the queen on Thursday.
Otherwise, football will return in the UK at all levels after a national break between Friday and Sunday. Monday’s match between Leeds and Nottingham Forest will not take place.
The English Football League — which controls the top three bottom divisions — said there will be tributes to the queen at every game in the country when the Championship resumes, as well as League One and League Two on Tuesday.
There will be a minute of silence before the games and the players will wear a black armband, the flag will be lowered to half-staff and they will sing the anthem — “God Save the King” — before the games.
Still, the Premier League will not be fully back as authorities assess logistical problems for Monday’s funeral attended by heads of state and royalty from around the world.
“With the national plan in place,” the EFL said, referring to the days leading up to the funeral where the queen’s coffin will lie in London, “the league and the clubs will continue to work with officials regarding any challenges that arise.” for the safety of certain encounters.”
Some Premier League clubs will return to action in European competition between Tuesday and Thursday — Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham contest the Champions League and Manchester United, Arsenal and West Ham the Europa League or Europa Conference League.
Liverpool host Ajax on Tuesday and City host Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
The meetings in London are the most dangerous due to the security operation for the queen’s funeral.
Arsenal’s Europa League game at home to PSV Eindhoven on Thursday was postponed due to “police resource constraints and organizational problems”.
UEFA and Arsenal face a problem to play the match on another date due to the tight schedule for the World Cup in November and December in Qatar.
The same in the case of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Leeds, Brighton and Palace who will have to reschedule two games. They will probably be held next year.
Almost all sports in the UK resumed over the weekend after a stoppage on Friday, the day after the queen died at the age of 96.