Three Premier League matches scheduled for this weekend have been postponed ahead of Queen Elizabeth's funeral, the Premier League announced on Monday.
Chelsea's home game against Liverpool and Manchester United's clash against Leeds United at Old Trafford on Sunday have been postponed. Also, Brighton & Hove Albion's match against Crystal Palace on Saturday will also remain postponed.
The Brighton game was originally called off due to planned industrial action on the rail network, which has now been stopped following the Queen's death.
Matches in England are being affected with police resources in London stretched after the Queen's death last week. A huge police operation is required with the Queen to lie in state between Wednesday and her funeral on Monday, September 19.
“Following extensive consultation with clubs, police, local safety advisory groups and other relevant authorities, there was no other option but to postpone the three fixtures,” the Premier League said in a statement.
“The Premier League would like to thank the UK Football Policing Unit and other police forces across the country, as well as our broadcast partners, for their support during this process, and will continue to liaise with them ahead of the weekend.
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Members of the royal family arrive to attend a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral, in Edinburgh, on Monday for Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
People queue to enter St Giles' Cathedral where Queen Elizabeth's coffin arrived earlier on Monday. It will rest there for 24 hours to enable the people of Scotland to pay their last respects. AP -
The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, for a service of prayer and reflection. -
The Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke of York leave St Giles' Cathedral after the service of prayer and reflection for the queen's life on Monday. -
The Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, King Charles III and the Queen Consort leave St Giles' Cathedral after the service of prayer and reflection for Queen Elizabeth II's life. -
People attend the procession of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Monday. AP -
The Crown of Scotland sits on the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II inside St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. AFP -
King Charles, Princess Royal Anne, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence walk behind the hearse as it moves along the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty -
King Charles III follows Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it enters the cathedral for a service of prayer and reflection at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward follow the hearse carrying the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew walk behind the hearse. Reuters -
The Royal Company of Archers, the King's Bodyguard for Scotland, arrive at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. AFP -
The hearse carrying the coffin of the queen travels slowly on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
Members of the public gather to watch the procession, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral, on the Royal Mile. AFP -
Royal guards carry Queen Elizabeth's coffin at the start of the procession. PA -
Royal archers outside St. Giles' Cathedral. Getty -
British Prime Minister Liz Truss attends a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of Queen Elizabeth at St Giles' Cathedral. PA -
Crowds gather near Mercat Cross ahead of the procession in Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles with Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge at the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. PA -
King Charles inspects the Guard of Honour as he arrives for the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Getty -
A young girl holds a Paddington bear and a Corgi dog stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession. Getty -
The Keys of the City of Edinburgh, to be offered to King Charles, during the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. AFP -
Crowds gather to watch the procession in Edinburgh. AP -
King Charles talks with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as he arrives at Edinburgh Airport. Reuters -
A convoy of cars with King Charles heads to Holyroodhouse. AP -
The honour guard outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse. AFP -
Police officers keep guard ahead of the arrival King Charles in Edinburgh. Reuters
“For the matches being played during the period of mourning, tributes will be paid to the Queen. New dates for the postponed matches will be announced in due course.”
The kick-off times for two of Sunday's games have also been altered, Brentford v Arsenal now starting at 12 noon local time (3pm UAE) rather than 2pm and Everton v West Ham starting at 5.15pm UAE time.
Earlier, England's Football Association (FA) and the English Football League (EFL) said matches will resume as scheduled from Tuesday after the last round of fixtures were postponed following the Queen's death.
“After a period of pause and reflection for our national game, we can confirm that fixtures will resume as scheduled,” the FA said on Monday.
That includes matches from the women's Super League and women's Championship, FA Cup second round qualifying, women's FA Cup, the lower tiers of the English football pyramid as well as all matches across grass roots football.
However, FA Trophy and FA Youth Cup matches will return later on Monday. The FA also said that all scheduled matches will be postponed next Monday, the day of the queen's funeral.
The FA also confirmed that a scheduled media conference with England manager Gareth Southgate on Thursday to announce his squad for the forthcoming Nations League matches against Italy and Germany had been cancelled out of respect for the period of national mourning. The squad will still be announced as planned at 2pm that day.
The news came after it was announced that Arsenal's Europa League clash with PSV Eindhoven on Thursday had been postponed due to a lack of police resources.
The Gunners face a fixture pile-up in a campaign already set to be interrupted by a first ever winter World Cup.
Outside the upcoming international break, Mikel Arteta's men are due to play every midweek before the World Cup break begins on November 13.
