Will all sports be cancelled with Premier League and EFL football fixtures?

Sporting events across the UK are free to make their own decisions about continuing following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 on Thursday.

The UK government has said 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 wekeend, such as the Premier League, WSL, and Football League. 

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. 

Football

The Premier League has confirmed the cancellation of all 10 matches planned for this matchweek across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.    

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 Professional Football League announced that Friday evening’s Championship clash between Dundee and Cove Rangers was off.

The Irish FA announced on Friday that all football in Northern Ireland scheduled for this weekend will not take place. 

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.

Rugby Union

Northampton announced the postponement of their Premiership Rugby Cup clash against Saracens scheduled for Thursday evening.

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 RFL postponed Friday’s Betfred Championship fixture between Sheffield Eagles and Dewsbury Rams, but the first Super League elimination play-off between Catalans Dragons and Leeds will go ahead as it is taking place in Perpignan, France. 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 was suspended for the day at the BMW PGA Championship and there will be no play on Friday.

Horse racing

Racing events are cancelled for Friday and Saturday, after evening cards at Southwell and Chelmsford were abandoned after the news broke at 6.30pm. 

On Sunday, racing – a much loved passion of the Queen – returns with the St Leger in a revised nine-race programme at Doncaster racecourse on Sunday. 

Athletics

The Great North Run, the world’s largest half-marathon, is set for Sunday. Organisers cancelled its 5k sister event on Friday, with a decision of the main race due on on Friday.

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

The weigh-in for Saturday’s proposed bout between Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields will take place behind closed doors. No announcement has yet been made about the weekend’s fight at The O2 in London.

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 planned before first free practice on Friday, and another expected on the grid before the race at 2pm on Sunday.

Tennis

The US Open held a brief tribute to the Queen during the women’s semi-finals 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.