Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth, British soccer was criticised for choosing to postpone this weekend's round of matches. Some supporters questioned the choice given that other sports organisations chose to allow play to continue.
The English Football League and the Premier League of soccer in England both decided to postpone their upcoming round of games as a show of respect for the queen, who passed away at her residence in Scotland on Thursday at the age of 96. The queen was the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
Additionally postponed this weekend were soccer matches in Northern Ireland and matches from September 9–12 for the Football Association of Wales. Scottish football professional matches were also postponed. View More
The FA's decision to eliminate grassroots soccer in England was met with general displeasure.
However, the third and decisive test match between England and South Africa started on Saturday at The Oval, and the rugby Premiership will also begin after Friday's two season-opening matches were postponed.
According to the Football Supporters' Association (FSA), the group that represents soccer supporters in England and Wales, the postponing of the games was a missed opportunity for supporters to demonstrate their support.
"We consider that football is at its best when bringing people together at occasions of tremendous national significance, be those moments of joy or moments of pain," the FSA said.
The group's viewpoints were echoed by former England internationals Peter Crouch and Gary Neville.
millions of viewers across the globe? Black armbands, observed silences, the Royal band playing the national anthem, etc.? That seems like a better send-off." enquired Crouch.
It was effectively left up to each sport's governing body after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) stated there was "no responsibility to cancel or postpone events and athletic games."
DISTRESSED DECISION
While the BMW PGA golf championship chose to resume play as a 54-hole competition on Saturday after Friday's play was cancelled, the Rugby Football League claimed to have made the "tough decision" to ensure that matches at all levels went on as scheduled.
With 60,000 runners registered, the Great North Run, the largest half marathon in the world, will also go place as scheduled on Sunday.
The British Horseracing Authority said that all events would resume on Sunday after being postponed for two days.
At The Oval in London, there were touching scenes as fans enthusiastically cheered after singing "God Save the King" before the day's action began. The vast majority of the crowd was likely singing the national anthem for the first time in their lives.
However, 58-year-old cricket enthusiast and recent retiree Neil Stevens expressed conflicted emotions to Reuters.
He stated, "I was worried that they were going to scrub the whole thing today.
"My feelings are conflicted about it. The issue is that it rendered this match absolutely useless. Will the outcome take three days? We've got a few (three-day outcomes), but in a manner, that part of the game has been taken away.
"However, it seemed appropriate to do something to mark the passing of our ruler. Really, I'm not a fan of the monarchy. You cannot take a retirement in that capacity; you must continue working till you pass away. It was allowed to respond to that with action.
Alex Turner, 32, a different fan, believed that the Premier League made the wrong decision and that the England & Wales Cricket Board had made the better decision.
It's a positive indicator, he continued. "The ECB did a good job of keeping things moving. It was a wiser course of action.
