Ex-English Premier League star Peter Crouch thinks calling off this weekend’s Premier League round of matches over Queen Elizabeth’s death, was not the right call by the FA. He said this slamming the move by the English Premier League body and English Football Association for abandoning precedence in a situation like this.
All football games for this weekend have been postponed, even grassroots football has been called off this weekend to honour the Queen.
The 41-year-old former Liverpool and England strike, Peter Crouch taking to his official social media handle on Friday 9th September 2022, says it was the wrong decision to call off the matches, and that a weekend of tributes at the game would have been better.
He said:
“I know it’s only a game and some things are much bigger but imagine all our games went ahead this weekend. Black armbands, silences observed, national anthem, Royal band playing etc to the millions around the world watching ? Isn’t that a better send off ?,” he said.
The statement by Peter Crouch comes a few hours after the English FA posted this message saying:
“At a meeting this morning, Premier League clubs paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. To honour her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game.”
Premier League and EFL released a statement saying they had made the decision to postpone this weekend’s English Premier League games to honour Queen Elizabeth’s ‘extraordinary life and contribution to the nation’.
The Premier League released the following statement: ‘At a meeting this morning [Friday], Premier League clubs paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
‘To honour her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game.’
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, added: ‘We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country.
‘As our longest-serving monarch, she has been an inspiration and leaves behind an incredible legacy following a life of dedication.
‘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.’
There were also concerns that policing issues would affect the games if they were to go ahead as planned on the weekend.
The Premier League have said that further updates regarding the postponed fixtures during the period of mourning will be provided in due course.
Police chiefs are currently meeting to determine whether forces would be too stretched next weekend between Friday 16 September and Sunday 18 September.
If next week’s matches are postponed then there could be no Premier League football until October 1 – nearly a month away – because of the upcoming international break.
The postponement of the entire programme could create fixture congestion later in the season as there are no free midweeks between now and the mid-winter break for the World Cup – which begins in Qatar just seven days after the Premier League pauses.
The UK Government said there was no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period.