British clubs ready for Champions League decision after Queen’s death as UEFA statement | Football | Sport

British clubs may be given the option to reschedule their upcoming Champions League group stage matches following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, while this weekend’s Premier League matches are ‘almost certainly’ postponed, according to reports. The Queen, the country’s longest-reigning monarch, died earlier on Thursday at her Balmoral residence in Scotland, surrounded by close members of the royal family.

News of Her Majesty’s death has raised many questions about whether the weekend’s scheduled football matches will go ahead as planned, while the upcoming round of European group stage matches featuring English clubs may also be affected. However, it appears that the parties involved may reschedule their next continental matches, with UEFA likely to grant the England teams special dispensation to do so.

That is according to the Daily mail, who say it would be “unthinkable” for UEFA not to give clubs the option to reschedule next week’s European games. However, it could be a different story in the Premier League as the upcoming round of domestic matches will be postponed as a mark of respect in the wake of the Queen’s death.

This weekend’s Premier League games are said to be ‘almost certainly’ suspended in light of Thursday’s news, while EFL games originally scheduled to take place on Friday have already been postponed.

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Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether English clubs set to play in Europe next week will ask for their matches to be postponed following the Queen’s death, with Buckingham Palace officially announcing that she had passed away at the age of 96. Thursday evening. Her notable tenure as head of state spanned a 70-year span, including the post-war austerity measures following World War II, the transition from the Empire to the Commonwealth, and the UK’s entry and exit from the European Union.

UEFA paid tribute to the Queen with a statement released later on Thursday, featuring moments of silence in two of the day’s Europa League matches involving Arsenal and Manchester United.

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“UEFA announces that a moment of silence was held tonight at matches involving British teams as a mark of respect following the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin added: “UEFA and European football are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, one of the world’s most respected figures.

“Our thoughts are with her family and English Football Association chairman Prince William, as well as the citizens of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.”