The EFL programme is set to recommence on Tuesday September 13 following The Queen’s death.
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will take place at 11am on Monday 19 September at Westminster Abbey. When and how EFL football recommences depends on resources around this date.
The National League has confirmed matches will go ahead as scheduled from Monday, with a one-minute silence to be observed at all matches before the funeral and players to wear black armbands.
Resourcing issues, particularly in respect of policing, are associated with some fixtures that will need to be discussed and resolved on a fixture-by-fixture basis over the period ahead.
Consideration to individual fixture circumstances will be made on a case-by-case basis, in line with usual protocols.
The National Police Chief’s Council said in a statement that a national policing operation had been activated and that UK Policing was working closely with other organisations to ensure events are held “safely and with the appropriate security”.
The NPCC added: “Following the decisions of the Premier League and English Football League to cancel this weekend’s matches, we will work with football clubs to try and ensure that, where possible, football fixtures can take place safely when balanced against the requirement to support national events and deliver day to day policing.
“This is a unique situation and we are working closely with everyone involved.”
When will football at all levels return?
Sky Sports News Senior Reporter Geraint Hughes explains when football may return as the United Kingdom mourns the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Sky Sports News senior reporter Geraint Hughes:
“We’re looking at next week as a working possibility. The expectation domestically is that the EFL will return on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s a big week next week as there’s a full programme on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It will be a state funeral so it’ll be an enormous national and international event which will take a lot of resourcing and a lot of those resources may be needed for sporting events.
“In this case, The Queen’s funeral takes enormous precedence. UEFA-wise, a lot of matches next week involve British clubs with Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Europa League and Europa Conference League on Thursday.
Former West Ham captain Mark Noble pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
“As it stands, the understanding from UEFA is that those games will go ahead. UEFA need these games to go ahead as there’s little room in the fixture list to get a lot of these games in to reach a certain stage before the World Cup break.
“The date of the funeral could have kickbacks on the football schedule.”
Man Utd’s Europa tie to go ahead
Manchester United have confirmed their UEFA Europa League game against FC Sheriff will take place as scheduled next week in Moldova.
“Following discussions with the relevant governing bodies and in line with guidance issued by the UK Government, we can confirm our UEFA Europa League fixture against FC Sheriff will take place as scheduled on Thursday evening in Moldova,” a statement reads.
“Match arrangements will remain the same for fans who are traveling to support the team in Chisinau.”
Sky Sports News understands discussions have been ongoing between UEFA and all the British teams in Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League competitions and all matches are expected to go ahead.
Rangers pushed back 24 hours
Rangers’ Champions League group stage game at home to Napoli has been pushed back 24 hours to Wednesday following discussions between Police Scotland, the Glasgow club and UEFA.
European football’s governing body have announced that the tie at Ibrox Stadium, originally to be played on Tuesday, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 14 at 8pm.
A UEFA statement explained: “This is due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
Upcoming midweek fixtures
Champions League
Tuesday September 13
- Liverpool vs Ajax
- Sporting Lisbon vs Tottenham
Wednesday September 13
- Chelsea vs Red Bull Salzburg
- Shakhtar Donetsk vs Celtic
- Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund
- Rangers vs Napoli
Europa League
Thursday September 15
- Arsenal vs PSV
- Sherriff Tiraspol vs Manchester United
Europa Conference League
Thursday September 15
- FK RFS vs Hearts
- Silkeborg vs West Ham
Sky Bet Championship
Tuesday September 13
- Blackburn Rovers vs Watford
- Huddersfield vs Wigan
- Hull vs Stoke
- Middlesbrough vs Cardiff
- Swansea vs Sheffield United
- Preston vs Burnley
Wednesday September 13
- Luton vs Coventry
- Millwall vs QPR
- Norwich vs Bristol City
- Rotherham vs Blackpool
- Reading vs Sunderland
- West Brom vs Birmingham
Sky Bet League One
Tuesday September 13
- Barnsley vs Port Vale
- Burton vs Portsmouth
- Charlton vs Forest Green
- Cheltenham vs Cambridge
- Ipswich vs Bristol Rovers
- Lincoln vs Derby
- MK Dons vs Bolton
- Morecambe vs Sheffield Wednesday
- Peterborough vs Fleetwood
- Plymouth vs Oxford
- Shrewsbury vs Exeter
- Wycombe vs Accrington
Sky Bet League Two
Tuesday September 13
- AFC Wimbledon vs Northampton
- Barrow vs Doncaster
- Crawley vs Stockport
- Grimsby vs Gillingham
- Harrogate vs Salford
- Hartlepool vs Crewe
- Mansfield vs Carlisle
- Rochdale vs Leyton Orient
- Stevenage vs Newport
- Swindon vs Sutton
- Tranmere vs Bradford
- Walsall vs Colchester
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