FOUR EFL matches have been called off just HOURS before their respective kick-offs due to the freezing weather.
It comes as subzero temperatures and then Storm Isha wreak havoc on this weekend’s sporting calendar.
Cheltenham Town, Port Vale, Bradford City and Mansfield Town’s respective League One and League Two clashes with Carlisle United, Wycombe Wanderers, Doncaster Rovers and Sutton United on Saturday afternoon have both fallen victim to the icy weather plaguing the UK.
The pitches at The Completely-Suzuki Stadium, Vale Park, Valley Parade and Field Mill have frozen through and are now completely unplayable.
The Big Freeze has now laid waste to FIVE EFL matches in less than two days.
Salford City were due to host Colchester United at the Peninsula Stadium this evening.
But their League Two clash was postponed due to the pitch completely being covered in snow.
Football is not this weekend’s only casualty, with Horse Racing in the UK grounding to a complete halt due to the incredibly cold conditions.
There will be NO jump racing in Britain on Saturday following Ascot, Haydock and Taunton’s decision to cancel their respective cards.
That’s despite race organisers’ best efforts to beat the chilling weather, which included laying out miles and miles of protective covering.
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More sporting fixtures are at risk of cancellation and there will be concerns for fans travelling long distances.
In the Premier League alone, Nottingham Forest fans will be travelling down to London and West Ham fans will be making the trip north to Sheffield United this weekend.
Storm Isha has sparked an amber ‘danger to life’ alert as the Met Office warns 70mph winds and heavy rain will batter Britain.
Brits are warned the country will be hit by “very strong winds” which could spark severe travel disruption.
It’s not just the sports fans in the UK facing extreme weather.
Mainz’s Bundesliga clash with Union Berlin, which was scheduled to take place this evening, was cancelled after a heavy barrage of snow.
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Cheltenham confirmed the postponement of their clash with a club statement reading: “Tomorrow’s Sky Bet League One fixture with Carlisle United has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
“A Football League-appointed match official conducted an 11am pitch inspection at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium this morning.
“After consultation with the Football League, the decision has been made to postpone tomorrow’s fixture.
“The frost covers have been on the pitch all week but temperatures for the past two nights have fallen so low that a considerable amount of frost has got into the pitch.
“On balance, it was felt that temperatures are not forecast to rise high enough to remove the frost before kick-off so the decision has been taken to postpone the match.
“The timing of the decision has also taken into account the considerable journey faced by opponents Carlisle and a desire to inconvenience them as little as possible.”
Mansfield issued a similar statement, which read: “Following a pitch inspection, Mansfield Town’s Sky Bet League Two encounter at home to Sutton United – scheduled for Saturday 20 January – has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
“Frost covers have been in place on the pitch for ten days as part of the club’s efforts to protect the pitch from sub zero temperatures as well as industrial hot-air blowers.
“Temperatures in Mansfield, however, have been as low as -7.
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“Following a pitch inspection by an EFL-appointed referee the pitch has been deemed unplayable.
“The club was mindful to call a pitch inspection as promptly as possible to notify home and away supporters of the outcome at the earliest opportunity.
“A rearranged date for the match will be announced shortly. All tickets purchased for this fixture will remain valid for the rescheduled game.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
