All English Football League (EFL) matches that were due to kick off at 3pm next Saturday will be rescheduled to ensure they do not clash with the funeral of Prince Philip, it has been announced.
The Duke of Edinburgh, husband to Queen Elizabeth II, died peacefully at Windsor Castle on Friday morning, Buckingham Palace said.
Sports paid tribute to the Prince after the news emerged, with the flags at Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park flying at half-mast and a two-minute silence observed before Friday’s County Championship cricket matches. Players and other staff also wore black armbands.
The EFL has now announced that all fixtures that were set to begin at 3pm next Saturday, 17 April, will be moved so that they do not take place at the same time as the Duke’s funeral.
“As a mark of respect, EFL matches scheduled for 3pm on Saturday 17 April will be moved to avoid a clash with the funeral of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” read a statement released on Saturday.
“The EFL will now work with its Clubs to determine at what time the matches will be played, giving consideration to the timing of the service.
“An announcement will follow in due course.”
The Premier League fixtures Southampton vs Crystal Palace and Wolves vs Sheffield United will seemingly be unaffected, though it is still possible that the top flight will make a statement in line with that released by the EFL.
