(Football news) The Premier League has announced that three fixtures from next week: Chelsea vs Liverpool, Manchester United vs Leeds United and Brighton vs Crystal Palace will be postponed due to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. However, the other matches will take place as scheduled after the league came to a standstill last weekend following the announcement of the Queen’s passing away. The funeral is set to be held on Monday, 19th September. Moreover, Arsenal’s Europa League game against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday has also been postponed.
A statement released by the Premier League read “Following extensive consultation with clubs, police, local safety advisory groups and other relevant authorities, there was no other option but to postpone the three fixtures. The Premier League would like to thank the UK Football Policing Unit and other police forces across the country, as well as our broadcast partners, for their support during this process, and will continue to liaise with them ahead of the weekend. For the matches being played during the period of national mourning, tributes will be paid to the Queen at Premier League stadiums. New dates for the postponed matches will be announced in due course."
A statement released by the NPCC said “The UK Football Policing Unit and National Police Chiefs' Council have worked closely with the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association to balance the policing requirements following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, daily policing and enabling as many football matches as possible to go ahead as planned.” The English League fixtures are set to begin from today (Tuesday) while Women’s Super League matches and Women’s Championship will resume as per schedule.
UEFA has already postponed Rangers' Champions League home game against Napoli from Tuesday to Wednesday "due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II". However, Tottenham’s Champions League fixture against Sporting Lisbon will go ahead as planned along with Liverpool welcoming Ajax to Anfield and Celtic travelling to Poland to take on Shakhtar Donetsk. Manchester City will also take on Borussia Dortmund as per schedule while Manchester United’s Europa League fixture against Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova will also go ahead.
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