The EFL will hold talks with the Government to decide whether this weekend’s fixtures will go ahead following the Queen’s death.
The Championship match between Burnley and Norwich and the League Two tie between Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County are scheduled for Friday night, followed by a full roster of matches from the EFL’s three tiers on Saturday.
Those matches will now be in doubt, with EFL officials set to confer with the Government and the wider sporting sector to determine if games should still be played while the country mourns the Queen’s passing at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon.
The Premier League did not immediately address its own weekend of fixtures, but said in a statement: “The Premier League is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II. Our thoughts and condolences are with The Royal Family and everyone around the world mourning the loss of Her Majesty.”
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Thursday’s European ties involving British clubs went ahead as scheduled, with players from Arsenal, Hearts, Manchester United and West Ham all holding a minute’s silence.
The Scottish Football Association expressed its deep condolences to the Royal Family upon the passing of the Queen, who was the patron of the governing body.
Will football fixtures be cancelled?
The EFL has said that “an appropriate announcement will be made at the earliest opportunity”.
“Today, the EFL was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty, The Queen Elizabeth II,” EFL chairman Rick Parry said. “Over a 70-year reign, Her Majesty proudly served the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with distinction.
“The Queen had a keen interest in sport including football. Her Majesty attended numerous FA Cup finals throughout her reign and was an advocate for our national sport through her many years of service.
“The Monarch was at Wembley Stadium in 1966 for perhaps our national game’s most famous moment to present captain Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet Trophy after England beat West Germany to win the World Cup.
“On behalf of the League and its Clubs, we join the rest of the nation and people across the world in mourning the passing of our Queen, Elizabeth II.
“The thoughts of everybody at the EFL and our Clubs are with the Royal Family at this sad time for our country.”
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