English Football League set to recommence on Tuesday following death of Queen Elizabeth II
The EFL programme is set to recommence on Tuesday September 13 following The Queen’s death.
When and how football recommences depends on resources and the date of The Queen’s funeral, which must take place within 14 days of Friday, when a state of national mourning was declared.
Resourcing issues, particularly in respect of policing, are associated with some fixtures that will need to be discussed and resolved on a fixture-by-fixture basis over the period ahead.
Consideration to individual fixture circumstances will be made on a case-by-case basis, in line with usual protocols.
When will football at all levels return?
Sky Sports News senior reporter Geraint Hughes:
“We’re looking at next week as a working possibility. The expectation domestically is that the EFL will return on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s a big week next week as there’s a full programme on Tuesday and Wednesday. There are caveats to this as we’re still awaiting the date on The Queen’s funeral.
“It will be a state funeral so it’ll be an enormous national and international event which will take a lot of resourcing and a lot of those resources may be needed for sporting events.
“In this case, The Queen’s funeral takes enormous precedence. UEFA-wise, a lot of matches next week involve British clubs with Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Europa League and Europa Conference League on Thursday.
“As it stands, the understanding from UEFA is that those games will go ahead. There has been a representation from Rangers and Police Scotland as well whereby they need to look at how the fixture with Napoli in the Champions League can go ahead.
“UEFA need these games to go ahead as there’s little room in the fixture list to get a lot of these games in to reach a certain stage before the World Cup break.
“The date of the funeral will have kickbacks on the football schedule, but as of now we don’t know when that will be.”
Man Utd’s Europa tie to go ahead
Manchester United have confirmed their UEFA Europa League game against FC Sheriff will take place as scheduled next week in Moldova.
“Following discussions with the relevant governing bodies and in line with guidance issued by the UK Government, we can confirm our UEFA Europa League fixture against FC Sheriff will take place as scheduled on Thursday evening in Moldova,” a statement reads.
“Match arrangements will remain the same for fans who are traveling to support the team in Chisinau.”
Sky Sports News understands discussions have been ongoing between UEFA and all the British teams in Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League competitions and all matches are expected to go ahead.
Rangers update fans on Napoli fixture next week
Rangers have announced that talks are ongoing with UEFA and Police Scotland about their Champions League fixture against Napoli at Ibrox on Tuesday.
Rangers’ Scottish Premiership fixture with Aberdeen on Saturday, which was due to be live on Sky Sports, has been postponed as English and Scottish football pay respect to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II by postponing all matches this weekend.
The Scottish Premiership side say they are “aware of policing and resource pressures” next week but say the game is going ahead at present.
Sky Bet Championship
Tuesday September 13
Blackburn Rovers vs Watford
Huddersfield vs Wigan
Hull vs Stoke
Middlesbrough vs Cardiff
Swansea vs Sheffield United
Preston vs Burnley
Wednesday September 13
Luton vs Coventry
Millwall vs QPR
Norwich vs Bristol City
Rotherham vs Blackpool
Reading vs Sunderland
West Brom vs Birmingham
Sky Bet League One
Tuesday September 13
Barnsley vs Port Vale
Burton vs Portsmouth
Charlton vs Forest Green
Cheltenham vs Cambridge
Ipswich vs Bristol Rovers
Lincoln vs Derby
MK Dons vs Bolton
Morecambe vs Sheffield Wednesday
Peterborough vs Fleetwood
Plymouth vs Oxford
Shrewsbury vs Exeter
Wycombe vs Accrington
Sky Bet League Two
Tuesday September 13
AFC Wimbledon vs Northampton
Barrow vs Doncaster
Crawley vs Stockport
Grimsby vs Gillingham
Harrogate vs Salford
Hartlepool vs Crewe
Mansfield vs Carlisle
Rochdale vs Leyton Orient
Stevenage vs Newport
Swindon vs Sutton
Tranmere vs Bradford
Walsall vs Colchester
