National League games to go ahead from Monday as football restarts in England

National League fixtures will go ahead from Monday after football paused as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Midweek English Football League fixtures are expected to go ahead, but the EFL is yet to issue a statement.

The Premier League is also yet to make an announcement about the games to be played between 16 and 18 September.

Some matches could be affected by a lack of resources such as policing, but issues will be reviewed on a game-by-game basis.

A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs Council said: “UK Policing is working closely with other organisations to ensure events are held safely and with the appropriate security.

“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.”

Welsh football at all levels will resume on Tuesday, but the Football Association of Wales said guidance regarding fixtures due to be held on the day of the funeral “will be provided in due course”.

In a statement earlier on Sunday, the National League – the fifth tier of English football – said: “The League can confirm fixtures scheduled for week commencing Monday, 12 September will go ahead as scheduled.

“Clubs are asked, for all fixtures up until the funeral, to observe a one-minute silence prior to the game and to wear black armbands as a mark of respect.”

The restart comes after the Football Association cleared fixtures to be played from Monday, when four FA Trophy games and two matches in the National League pyramid at Bradford Park Avenue and Chelmsford City will take place.

The Queen, Britain’s longest ever reigning monarch, died on Thursday and a state funeral will be held on Monday, 19 September.

Uefa has moved Rangers’ Champions League home game against Napoli from Tuesday to Wednesday, “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”.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have confirmed their Champions League game away to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday is “going ahead as planned.”

Ten Premier League games were postponed over the weekend, including Monday’s match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.

Policing games could be a factor in the decision if forces are redeployed to London before the Queen’s funeral.

There are currently three matches scheduled to take place in the capital. Tottenham play Leicester on Saturday evening, while Brentford face Arsenal and Chelsea are at home to Liverpool on Sunday, 18 September.

Manchester City’s Champions League home game with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday is due to go ahead as planned, as is Manchester United’s Europa League game with FC Sheriff in Moldova on Thursday.

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