All football cancelled because of the queen...

Is this overkill?

I'm already fed up of hearing it.

No it is simply a mark of respect to the head of our nation for the last 70 years.

Christ calling off a football match is no big deal, that happens all the time for many reasons (Portsmouth match looks like being called off because of international call ups for them).

These days you can simply spend your time by watching Netflix or doing something else instead if you don't want to join in the mourning, so it isn't as though people haven't got other things to do to pass their time until things get back to normal again.

I've already been banished to my room, where I'm whiling away the time watching Night Court and One Foot In The Grave.

Sluffy wrote:No it is simply a mark of respect to the head of our nation for the last 70 years.

I respected the Queen, fabulous lady, and I'm sad that she's passed away. But cancelling everything achieves absolutely nothing.

It would have been much more respectful to go ahead with the football, have a two minute silence and perhaps everyone sing 'God Save The Queen'. Football fans coming together.

Rugby goes ahead on Saturday, so I'll be tuning in for Huddersfield v Salford.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Sluffy wrote:No it is simply a mark of respect to the head of our nation for the last 70 years.

I respected the Queen, fabulous lady, and I'm sad that she's passed away. But cancelling everything achieves absolutely nothing.

It would have been much more respectful to go ahead with the football, have a two minute silence and perhaps everyone sing 'God Save The Queen'. Football fans coming together.

Jesus it is postponing a football match we are talking about, not the end of the world - and as I've said there are plenty ways these days to fill the void for those who are inconvenienced in any way by all of this.

Sluffy wrote:Jesus it is postponing a football match we are talking about, not the end of the world - and as I've said there are plenty ways these days to fill the void for those who are inconvenienced in any way by all of this.

I'm not being inconvenienced.

But my point is, if sport goes ahead people will come together to celebrate the Queen's life. Cancel it and people just go shopping or to the pub. So I'm not seeing the logic.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Sluffy wrote:Jesus it is postponing a football match we are talking about, not the end of the world - and as I've said there are plenty ways these days to fill the void for those who are inconvenienced in any way by all of this.

I'm not being inconvenienced.

But my point is, if sport goes ahead people will come together to celebrate the Queen's life. Cancel it and people just go shopping or to the pub. So I'm not seeing the logic.

I doubt it would.

Taking the knee for the last couple of years hasn't changed a single person from being a racist into not being one, so why would two minutes on Saturday bring people who aren't that bothered about the Queen or the constitutional monarch in general, into celebrating the Queen's life?

The Queens death happens once in a lifetime, there are 46 EFL matches each and every year (well at least since the PL reduced its size to 20 clubs) - which is the most significant event?

I see. We show respect for the death of the Queen by having a silence for two minutes. Well it is twice as long as any ex- footballer.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

I'm not being inconvenienced.

But my point is, if sport goes ahead people will come together to celebrate the Queen's life. Cancel it and people just go shopping or to the pub. So I'm not seeing the logic.

I totally agree however the world of sport really doesn't know how to respond.

Horse Racing for example, has decided to run the St Leger but cancel all other races.....

"The return of racing on Sunday will see the running of the Cazoo St Leger, one of Britain’s five Classic races and a race which the Queen won with her filly Dunfermline in 1977.
"This will also provide an opportunity for the sport and its supporters to pay its respects to Her Majesty, for the contribution which she has made to the sport to be marked, and for racing to express its deep gratitude to her and sympathies to her family."

So why don't all sporting events provide an opportunity for people to collectively pay their respects?

The Government have provided "mourning guidelines" and there is nothing in them to request cancellation of events as long as they don't clash with the funeral....

"Representatives from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS] spoke to leaders from across sport on Friday morning.
Organisations have been advised to adjust timings for any sporting events on the day of the Queen’s State Funeral, to avoid a clash with the service and associated processions. Per [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] could be held on Monday 19 September, with an announcement expected shortly.
The guidance adds: “As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands.”

So if the official guidelines are as above, why deny people to pay their respects collectively?

Rugby is going ahead.

You can't win. Can't do right for doing wrong.
Our extended family are going for a drink tonight, to celebrate the Queen's life, and word has come down the line that I won't be welcome.
'Don't bring that old Trot with you', were the exact words, I'm told.
I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to my evening.

I'm. Just not sure how cancelling sporting events is seen as a way of showing respect.

I'm not even sure why the world of sport needs to mark it in any way?

But even if I did think sport needed to mark it, I just don't know who decided that cancellations = respect.
Who decided that that is a thing? And why is it?

What are people expected to do?
As Nat pointed out elsewhere. if the footie is off do they think people will instead be silently contemplating her life of service?
No - they'll be doing something else.
Whereas if you stick thousands of people in a stadium and there's a period of silence and some images they are far more likely to think about paying their respects and reflect on her passing.
There's something about the group mentality that focuses the mind - and in my opinion bringing them together at  a sporting event is more likely to generate a greater public outpouring of appreciation for the woman than them individually going about their lives.
I think the knee jerk EFL decision was naive.

What were the key factors behind football's decision?
Dan Roan, BBC sports editor

After the Queen died on Thursday, football's governing bodies convened on Friday to discuss the best course of action for the upcoming weekend's fixtures.

The government's national mourning guidance advised that cancelling games was not obligatory, leaving the decision to individual sports.

The Football Associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all confirmed on Friday that fixtures would be postponed as a mark of respect.

The Premier League said the decision not to go ahead with its 10 games this weekend was made to honour the Queen's "extraordinary life and contribution to the nation".

In a rare example of unity, football's authorities are understood to feel that - unlike other sports that have already paused events this week, like racing, cricket and golf - football has not yet had a chance to stop, reflect and show its respects.

Many people disagree of course, and feel matches would have provided fans with an opportunity to pay tribute. There is understandable sympathy for those who have spent money on tickets and transport, and now have to change plans at short notice, especially with so many other events in other sports going ahead.

The decision to stop grassroots and school sport is also contentious, especially after so much football was lost during the pandemic, even if it is just for one weekend.

But the FA is known to be mindful of football's status as the national sport at this historic moment, and the close ties the sport had with the Queen, who was patron of the FA, while Prince William is its president.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Just for once I disagree with Sluffy. 

I don’t think playing these matches would in any way disrespect the Queen. While I, along with everyone else, doesn’t really know what she might have thought, she seemed like a ‘keep calm and carry on’ sort of person to me. 

The other factor is financial. This has an impact on fans planning to attend away matches with irrecoverable expenses and also on cash flow for clubs. 

It will also squeeze an already-packed fixture list. 

Finally, I doubt the death of a monarch will necessarily be a ‘once in a lifetime event’ for many of us, particularly those significantly younger than our new king.

BarrygoestoBolton wrote:Just for once I disagree with Sluffy. 

I don’t think playing these matches would in any way disrespect the Queen. While I, along with everyone else, doesn’t really know what she might have thought, she seemed like a ‘keep calm and carry on’ sort of person to me. 

The other factor is financial. This has an impact on fans planning to attend away matches with irrecoverable expenses and also on cash flow for clubs. 

It will also squeeze an already-packed fixture list. 

Finally, I doubt the death of a monarch will necessarily be a ‘once in a lifetime event’ for many of us, particularly those significantly younger than our new king.

There is a bit of a difference between not playing this one round of matches (although the funeral itself may well lead to another round of games being cancelled) out of 'respect' and playing them as being 'disrespectful'.

For instance, the current Test Match cancelled one day out of respect but playing the very next day did not show their 'disrespect' to her - it merely was meant as them 'doffing their caps and bowing their heads' to her for a moment if you will and carried out immediately thereafter - that is exactly what the football bodies are doing...

"In a rare example of unity, football's authorities are understood to feel that - unlike other sports that have already paused events this week, like racing, cricket and golf - football has not yet had a chance to stop, reflect and show its respects."

The football governing bodies have chosen to show their respect in exactly the same way as the authorities in cricket, golf, horse racing have - and after that moment of respect, carried on as normal.

Football authorities simply want to show the same respect.

I think people also need to understand that we have been talking about TWO separate things up to now on this thread here namely the 'football governing bodies' and the fans who go to the games.

It is the governing bodies who are showing their respect (perhaps 'honouring' is a better word to use) to the Queen by pausing the games today.

What people seemed to have missed is that when games resume that I fully expect every club will show their respect in some way by perhaps having a minutes silence or similar before kick-off and all the fans can come together and celebrate the Queens life then - it isn't a one or the other type situation - it will be both - the football bodies showing their respect by postponing today's games and the fans showing their respect at the next fixture played.

As for the financial side I don't think it will be so bad, all tickets will be honored for the rearranged game or refunded, and going off just this Tweet it would seem travel costs are being refunded also...

I’ve been ticket office today got a refund on match tickets and Trainline just granted a refun on train for anyone who’s interested

— marc boatwright (@MarcBoatwright) [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I also don't really think any club will go bust over cash flow issues over the postponement either.

The postponement will squeeze an already packed fixture list, true, but I've no doubt everything will be fitted in as it always is.

And yes, you are right, maybe I should have said the death of a monarch should be once in a generation event rather than once in a lifetime, but I think most people understood the point I was attempting to make at the time.

Finally thank you for stating you usually agree with my posts - most on here certainly seem not to!

The league is controlled by people with names like Sir Poncemby Smithe and Lord Trevor Dickwad  - or others who are looking for a knighthood down the road. People who don't care what the financial impact is to various workers. Of course, games will be called off for snow and waterlogged pitches, but that sort of thing is not controllable.
I myself have a round of golf set up for later - will toast the Queen in a local tonight.

Cricket's on though. SA 26 for 3

Sluffy wrote:

There is a bit of a difference between not playing this one round of matches (although the funeral itself may well lead to another round of games being cancelled) out of 'respect' and playing them as being 'disrespectful'.

For instance, the current Test Match cancelled one day out of respect but playing the very next day did not show their 'disrespect' to her - it merely was meant as them 'doffing their caps and bowing their heads' to her for a moment if you will and carried out immediately thereafter - that is exactly what the football bodies are doing...

"In a rare example of unity, football's authorities are understood to feel that - unlike other sports that have already paused events this week, like racing, cricket and golf - football has not yet had a chance to stop, reflect and show its respects."

The football governing bodies have chosen to show their respect in exactly the same way as the authorities in cricket, golf, horse racing have - and after that moment of respect, carried on as normal.

Football authorities simply want to show the same respect.

I think people also need to understand that we have been talking about TWO separate things up to now on this thread here namely the 'football governing bodies' and the fans who go to the games.

It is the governing bodies who are showing their respect (perhaps 'honouring' is a better word to use) to the Queen by pausing the games today.

What people seemed to have missed is that when games resume that I fully expect every club will show their respect in some way by perhaps having a minutes silence or similar before kick-off and all the fans can come together and celebrate the Queens life then - it isn't a one or the other type situation - it will be both - the football bodies showing their respect by postponing today's games and the fans showing their respect at the next fixture played.

As for the financial side I don't think it will be so bad, all tickets will be honored for the rearranged game or refunded, and going off just this Tweet it would seem travel costs are being refunded also...

I’ve been ticket office today got a refund on match tickets and Trainline just granted a refun on train for anyone who’s interested

— marc boatwright (@MarcBoatwright) [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I also don't really think any club will go bust over cash flow issues over the postponement either.

The postponement will squeeze an already packed fixture list, true, but I've no doubt everything will be fitted in as it always is.

And yes, you are right, maybe I should have said the death of a monarch should be once in a generation event rather than once in a lifetime, but I think most people understood the point I was attempting to make at the time.

Finally thank you for stating you usually agree with my posts - most on here certainly seem not to!

Ha, I usually agree more often than not with you Sluffy.

On this occasion however, I’m afraid I’d have to divert, despite being a committed royalist, from your agreement to postponing games. I accept what you mean about other sports stopping for a day but actually there were a few games called off on Friday anyway. Strangely I find myself concurring with NAT for once in that not attending the planned football match won’t encourage people to think of the Queen as much as those attending games singing the national anthem and performing a minutes silence. Either way is ok by me but I don’t think attending a game today would have been seen in any way as being disrespectful.

BarrygoestoBolton wrote:Just for once I disagree with Sluffy. 

I don’t think playing these matches would in any way disrespect the Queen. While I, along with everyone else, doesn’t really know what she might have thought, she seemed like a ‘keep calm and carry on’ sort of person to me. 

The other factor is financial. This has an impact on fans planning to attend away matches with irrecoverable expenses and also on cash flow for clubs. 

It will also squeeze an already-packed fixture list. 

Finally, I doubt the death of a monarch will necessarily be a ‘once in a lifetime event’ for many of us, particularly those significantly younger than our new king.

"Just for once I disagree with Sluffy"

You Sir are a very rare beast indeed!!

I'm going to resist any other comment.