A lost weekend… for nothing

By Dave Langton

There is absolutely no reason for us to have sat in our front rooms this weekend with no football to watch.

We could have seen West Ham go up against Newcastle in what was one of the more intriguing match-ups of the weekend; the Magpies have been quietly impressive at the start of the season and the Irons were beginning to play their way back into form.

We know exactly why the game’s were suspended – some, apparent, show of respect for Queen Elizabeth II.

It was a performative gesture from the Premier League, who took the decision to suspend the games this weekend. The government handed the decision over to them, so there was no need for the clubs to make the call.

We saw on Thursday how football can unite in times of national grief. The London Stadium crowd came together in one of the most rousing renditions of the national anthem in recent years, and respect was paid to the late monarch before kick-off.

It was poignant and it was reverential.

This weekend, we haven’t been able to watch football, but you can turn on Sky Sports or BT Sport and watch cricket, F1, rugby union, rugby league, golf, cycling and athletics.

Football is the odd one out and it doesn’t make a single lick of sense.

The European games this week will go ahead, and games outside of London in the Premier League are likely to be played next weekend, too, despite it being the Queen’s funeral.

The Premier League rushed into a decision because they wanted to be seen to do the ‘right thing’.

The ‘right thing’ was to play on, and pay our respects in a way only football can.

Instead, we’ve lost a weekend of football, for absolutely no reason.