ARSENAL’S Europa League group stage match against PSV has been called off over a shortage of police ahead of the Queen’s funeral.
All top-flight, EFL, WSL and grassroots football was scrapped over the weekend as a mark of respect following her Majesty’s death last Thursday, aged 96.
Monday night’s fixture between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest was also postponed.
PSV have now confirmed the game against the Gunners on Thursday at the Emirates has been postponed.
This is due to fears over a lack of available policing for English sides playing at home.
In their statement PSV said: “National authorities in Great Britain have decided that insufficient deployment of police personnel is possible due to the funeral services of the British Queen Elizabeth in London.”
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Chelsea are playing at home in the Champions League on Wednesday against RB Salzburg and that game will go ahead.
Policing concerns are less of a problem outside of the capital.
Home fixtures for Liverpool against Ajax and Manchester City against Borussia Dortmund will go ahead as planned.
Tottenham, West Ham and Manchester United are all playing away from home and so their fixtures will not be affected.
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However, next weekend’s matches are also at risk of being postponed over policing issues.
Her Majesty’s funeral is taking place on Monday, September 19, and there’s two huge fixtures set to take place this weekend in the capital.
Brentford are taking on London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge.
The status of those games is currently unclear, although the match at Stamford Bridge now looks set to be cancelled.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
