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The English Premier League announced Friday that all weekend matches, including Monday’s game between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, have been postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The league held a meeting on Friday where the 20 top-flight clubs paid tribute to the longest-serving British monarch who passed away just a day earlier at 96.
The Barclays Premier League badge.
(AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
“We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country,” Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said in a statement. “As our longest-serving monarch, she has been an inspiration and leaves behind an incredible legacy following a life of dedication.”
DP WORLD TOUR SUSPENDS BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP FOLLOWING DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH
“This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation, but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her, and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.”
The Premier League logo is displayed on an LED screen prior to the Premier League match between Leicester City and Sheffield United at The King Power Stadium on March 14, 2021, in Leicester, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the U.K. remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic as government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors.
(Marc Atkins/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Several other sports governing bodies in the U.K. also announced the cancelation of planned events out of respect for the royal family. The DP World Tour announced that play at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth would be suspended through Friday.
“On behalf of our members and everyone connected with the European Tour group and the BMW Championship, it is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” the European Tour said in a statement. “She was truly an inspiration to the people of the world over.”
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An update from the Tour is expected sometime on Friday.
Flags are flown at half-mast on the Wentworth Club House following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during Day One of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 08, 2022, in Virginia Water, England.
(Warren Little/Getty Images)
Other events called off included cycling’s Tour of Britain, which also canceled the final two stages of the race scheduled for the weekend, and the third day of horse racing’s St. Leger festival in Doncaster. The St. Leger, one of British racing’s classics, will now take place on Sunday, organizers said Friday.
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The England and Wales Cricket Board also announced that there would be no play on Friday in the third and deciding test between England and South Africa at the Oval.
The British government has given sports organizations the discretion to decide whether events will be played but for the Premier League, rescheduling 10 matches will be tricky with this World Cup-affected season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.