Premier League soccer matches due to take place in the UK this weekend have all been canceled to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II — and the lads are not coping well.
“Minutes silence and black armbands are enough. Don’t postpone the premier league ffs,” read one tweet with more than 40,000 likes.
“brits when the queen dies vs. brits when a premiere league game is postponed due to the queen's death,” said another.
brits when the queen dies vs. brits when a premiere league game is postponed due to the queen's death
The English Premier League is one of the most watched and loved soccer leagues in the world — it’s the one that Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and all the other big household names play in.
“Her Majesty the Queen was a long-standing Patron of The Football Association and has left a lasting and indelible legacy on our national game,” the Football Association wrote in its statement.
As a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed.
Prince William has been the president of the FA for the past 17 years — he gets to hand over the premiership trophy — and regularly attends matches. As well as the Premier League, dozens of other soccer games and sports leagues have been postponed because of the Queen’s death.
English soccer fans are notorious for their devotion to the sport, and by that, we mean football hooliganism, where wild fandom is literally called the British Disease. So surprise, surprise, they were not OK with games being canceled.
Football fans when they realize Queen Elizabeth's death means no EPL games this weekend💀
“Absolutely embarrassing, absurd decision. I can go to a gig, the cinema, a restaurant, a shop, a pub or various other places on Saturday but not a football game. Please explain why football is different,” wrote someone whose Twitter bio describes him as “Leyton Orient season ticket holder / Newcastle United supporter / general football enthusiast. Legacy fan.”
Another fan, a member of the European Parliament named Rupert Lowe, tweeted that people should be celebrating the life of the late Queen at soccer games. “Get people together, singing the anthem and appreciating her contribution,” he said.
Others tried to desperately plead for just a minute’s silence or black armbands to honor her.
@FA Yeah not a great choice here. Not with next weekend being called off already. Put on a black armband, have a minute of silence, and kick off. Next weekend I understand but this is kinda excessive.
@FA I'm afraid you've made the wrong call here - there could have been a minutes silence followed by the anthem, it would have been a much better way of showing respect.
The most frustrated were those who had bought tickets — since they’re fairly expensive — and those who were tourists that had traveled to England to watch these high-profile matches.
“The Queen's death shouldn't put the common working folk out of pocket, or disrupt their leisure pursuits. This is stupid,” one person wrote.
The Queen's death shouldn't put the common working folk out of pocket, or disrupt their leisure pursuits. This is stupid. https://t.co/K0vz7XL1yA
3 weeks no prem https://t.co/hvIuo8QPGU
I absolutely understand a mark of respect in circumstances like this, but surely cancelling games then disrespects so many other people who have made plans, bought tickets, paid for travel/hotels – as well as all the people whose livelihoods revolve around football. https://t.co/7cz2Sqvf6d
There’s no information as to when the postponed matches will take place. “Further updates regarding Premier League fixtures during the period of mourning will be provided in due course,” the FA wrote.
On Thursday, several matches took place in the evening. One of the teams playing, Arsenal, which was said to be the late Queen’s favorite because it’s the only soccer team she ever invited for tea at Buckingham Palace, held a minute of silence at their match against FC Zurich.