Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Premier League announced earlier today that all 10 fixtures due to go ahead this weekend have now been postponed.
This is a momentous occasion and a sad time for so many up and down the country, however I feel the Premier League have not only made a big error, but missed a huge opportunity here.
The next 48 hours could have provided a show of unity to be proud of. Imagine full stadiums belting out the National Anthem in honour of our Queen, a two minute silence before kick off and each and every player, member of staff and official wearing a black armband in her memory. That would have been poignant, historic and incredibly powerful.
This weekend could have created footage and memories that would’ve lasted forever and been shared across the world to highlight the love and respect this country had for our Queen.
Instead, the Premier League have decided to cancel all football this weekend as a ‘mark of respect.’
The Queen was also a great lover of sport. So, with all of the above in mind, would it not have been a greater and powerful mark of respect to sing her name and reflect on her life in unison up and down the country?
I understand that certain protocols must be followed, however the Premier League have not only missed the opportunity to put a positive spin on events over the past 24 hours, but have also left thousands of supporters out of pocket, with huge money spent on tickets, hotels and travel set to go to waste.
The Premier League may have made this decision with the best intentions, but it feels like they’ve missed the mark and the opportunity to celebrate her life in a much more powerful way.
There’s plenty of fans and players up and down England who likely couldn’t care less about her passing, and indeed some who felt real animosity, if not towards her specifically, then toward what she represented. Have a look at Trevor Sinclair’s tweet yesterday for a good example. I personally have no strong feelings one way or the other and wouldn’t defend people who are immediately using her death to say things that are beyond the pale in order to further their own agendas, but the PL could likely see the sh*t show that could ensue if they tried to enforce the sort of extreme reverence that people would want fans and players to show were the games to go ahead.
Kevin Mclaughlin(Quote)
I do get what your saying in this article, but the reality is that there would be a small percentage that would boo or abuse the minutes silence etc and that would grab all of the headlines.
Plus, with ASM, Wilson and Bruno not quite fit, it probably does us a favour!
Jamie(Quote)
After the passing of a monarch it is the right time for everyone to take pause, reflect and show their respects. It just isn’t the right time to carry on as normal. We all have to accept that.
Andrew(Quote)
They have forced Blm bend the knee for racism in a prem league that has 35% millionaire black players , fly flags for Ukraine one of the most corrupt neo Nazi infested countries, and pushed much watch low quality women’s football .. which under15 boys teams have beaten .. hardly surprising they will shut down for the queen’ death …nobody has a say in any of it .. modern British democracy where your told what to do and think
Nick(Quote)
They have forced Blm bend the knee for racism in a prem league that has 35% millionaire black players , fly flags for Ukraine one of the most corrupt neo Nazi infested countries, and pushed much watch low quality women’s football .. which under15 boys teams have beaten .. hardly surprising they will shut down for the queen’ death …nobody has a say in any of it .. modern British democracy where your told what to do and think
Nick(Quote)
So Olly. I’m curious. How do you put a “positive spin” on the Queen dying?
The death of the ruling monarch can’t be just papered over with a minute’s silence, or even worse, a minute’s clapping.
You dont pay respect on the passing of the woman who ruled our nation for 70 years by “taking a knee”
I’m guessing that you are a youngster who has been raised at a time when “let him do what he wants” has taken priority over “showing respect”.
I think the idea is that respect should be shown in a manner that the deceased would find respectful, not that youngsters will find convenient.
Also, you seem to be completely ignoring the fact that maybe some of the players, club staff, and a few million fans around the country might want to mourn in a more traditional, less trendy manner.
Show some compassion mate. The passing of the monarch trumps an afternoon on the ****.
Byker Bill(Quote)