Premier League football may well restart before the Queen's state funeral after the National League revealed its own plans to continue with upcoming fixtures this week. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest on Monday September 19, with King Charles III confirming the day will be a bank holiday.
Leeds United are scheduled to make the trip to Manchester United on Sunday and while all the signs point towards football’s return, matches are set to be reviewed on a game-by-game basis. Of course, given the intense nature of the rivalry, Man United vs Leeds is always a heavily policed game and that is a factor that will be taken into consideration before a decision is made.
A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs Council said via BBC Sport : "UK Policing is working closely with other organisations to ensure events are held safely and with the appropriate security.
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"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."
That said, according to the Daily Mirror, it is the matches in London that are most under threat due to policing. On Sunday, Chelsea are set to host Liverpool and Arsenal travel to Brentford – both of which will be screened live on Sky Sports.
Top-flight football chiefs decided against games going ahead over the weekend as a mark of respect following The Queen's passing. However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have said their guidance will remain the same this coming week, meaning sporting bodies have complete control as to which events go ahead.
The National League released a statement on Sunday, confirming games will take place in England's fifth-tier throughout this week. The Premier League and EFL may now have no choice but to follow suit, particularly given the already overstretched nature of this season’s schedule.
The National League statement read: "The League can confirm that further to the announcement that the funeral for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be held on Monday 19 September, National League fixtures for week commencing Monday 12 September will go ahead as scheduled.
"Clubs, for all fixtures up until the funeral, will observe a one-minute silence prior to the game and will wear black armbands as a mark of respect to Her Majesty."
"Whether matches go ahead is a matter for the football authorities," the Met Police said over the weekend. "If fixtures do take place, the Met will work with the relevant partners and ensure that appropriate policing plans are in place."
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