Government says Premier League and EFL football matches can go ahead this weekend

The UK Government has left the Premier League and EFL to make a final decision over the postponement of this weekend’s fixtures following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

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The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport held a call with all major sports governing bodies at 9.30am on Friday morning to outline its stance.

The Government has said that there is ‘no obligation’ to postpone matches this weekend and that the decision to cancel is ‘at the discretion of individual organisations’.

It is now on the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association to decide how to proceed. The Premier League will be holding a meeting at 11am on Friday to determine its plan for the weekend’s games.

The Irish Football Association has already announced that games in Northern Ireland will be postponed this weekend.

A statement – which is titled ‘Guidance for the Period of National Mourning’ – said: ‘There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period. This is at the discretion of individual organisations.

‘As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral. They are under no obligation to do so and this is entirely at the discretion of individual organisations.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died after 70 years on the throne, with her death announced by Buckingham Palace on September 8, 2022.

She died at the age of 96 surrounded by her family at her home in Balmoral, including her son and heir to the throneCharles, the Prince of Wales, and her grandsons, the Duke Of Cambridge, Prince William and the Duke of