Peter Crouch says football should be ON this weekend

Peter Crouch says football matches should be ON this weekend as dismayed fans ask why their sport is cancelled after Queen’s death but rugby and cricket are still on and theatres, pubs and cinemas stay open

• All football has been cancelled this weekend as a mark of respect to The Queen
• Matches could also be cancelled next weekend over funeral policing fears
• Football fans argue the games should go ahead with tributes paid to Elizabeth II
• Peter Crouch said respect shown to The Queen would be ‘a better send off’  
• Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing

Football fans have reacted angrily after all matches were called off this weekend as a mark of respect to The Queen, despite other sports going ahead.

Premier League, Women’s Super League,EFL and grassroots matches have been cancelled following the death of Elizabeth II on Thursday afternoon.

However, cricket, rugby league and union, golf and others are going ahead, sparking protests from fans. 

Most other public entertainment is also going ahead, including theatres, pubs and cinemas, with a moment’s silence observed before many events. 

Ex-footballer Peter Crouch argued allowing football matches to go ahead would give clubs the chance to pay their respects to The Queen.

Fears that football fans would be disrespectful towards The Queen was reportedly a factor in the decision to cancel Premier League games. 

However, at West Ham’s Europa Conference League against FCSB on Thursday, fans of the East London club belted out God Save The Queen in tribute to the late monarch.

A moment’s silence was observed ahead of kickoff between West Ham United and FCSB on Thursday, and fans sang God Save The Queen during the game 

A moment’s silence was observed at the match ahead of kickoff.

Peter Crouch lead the opposition to the cancelled matches, arguing fans showing respect to The Queen ahead of kickoff would be ‘a better send off’.

The former Liverpool and England striker said on Twitter: ‘I know it’s only a game and some things are much bigger but imagine all our games went ahead this weekend. 

‘Black armbands, silences observed, national anthem, Royal band playing etc to the millions around the world watching? 

‘Isn’t that a better send off?’

Others, including Piers Morgan and Gary Neville, also pitched in to argue the cancellation was unnecessary.

TV host Morgan lashed out at the ‘ridiculous decision’ while former Manchester United player Neville added: ‘Sport can demonstrate better than most the respect the Queen deserves.’

Fans’ group The FSA told football authorities the cancelled fixtures were a missed opportunity for fans to pay tribute to the Queen ahead of kickoff.

Gary Neville and Piers Morgan also criticised the top flight’s decision on Friday afternoon

The Premier League released a statement saying they made the decision to postpone the fixtures to honour Queen Elizabeth’s ‘extraordinary life and contribution to the nation’

A spokesperson for the FSA said: ‘We believe football is at its finest when bringing people together at times of huge national significance – be those moments of joy or moments of mourning.

‘Our view, which we shared with the football authorities, is that most supporters would have liked to go to games this weekend and pay their respect to the Queen alongside their fellow fans.

‘Not everyone will agree, so there was no perfect decision for the football authorities, but many supporters will feel this was an opportunity missed for football to pay its own special tributes.

‘As usual, the Football Supporters’ Association will be collating advice about supporters’ entitlements regarding expenses incurred relating to postponed games this weekend.’

Football matches are even in danger of being cancelled next weekend over fears police forces will be dangerously overstretched ahead of The Queen’s funeral on Monday September 19. 

Thousands of police officers are expected to be involved in the funeral security operation, with fears forces could be spread too thinly to police football matches next weekend 

The security operation around the funeral is expected to be the biggest in British history, involving around 10,000 police officers, as millions arrive in London to pay their respects to the country’s longest-serving monarch. 

Police and security forces are meeting to discuss plans for the funeral and the days before and after. If they decide police will be too thinly spread, they could recommend football matches are delayed for yet another week. 

The Metropolitan Police force has announced that roads in a large area of central London will be closed ahead of the funeral. 

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said yesterday there was ‘no obligation’ to postpone sporting fixtures and that any decision was left ‘at the discretion of individual organisations’. 

The Premier League, the most profitable football league in the world, said on Friday all matches were cancelled this weekend ‘To honour [The Queen’s] extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect’.

The FA later announced that all games in England, down to the grassroots level, would also be cancelled. 

The Metropolitan Police was contacted for comment. 

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