Postponement guidelines Premier League referees should comply with amid UK climate chaos
The Premier League has specific protocols that clubs must follow for match postponements due to adverse weather conditions
While Premier League matches being postponed due to weather conditions have been few and far between in recent seasons, football’s governing body has a specific set of rules and regulations that clubs must adhere to.
The last 24 hours have seen several EFL and Non-League games affected by severe weather, with the UK Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for snow and ice. As things stand, no top-tier games have been called off.
That said, if the weather poses a risk, clubs are required to follow stringent procedures involving communication with match referees and early pitch inspections. It falls to the match official to determine whether a pitch is safe and suitable for play.
The referee’s two main considerations during a pitch inspection are player safety and the quality of the match as a spectacle. They must decide whether the playing conditions pose a threat to the players’ well-being, and whether the conditions could detract from the match as a spectacle for fans.
If there’s even the slightest hint that a match might be negatively impacted by the weather, clubs are advised to get in touch with the match referee at least 48 hours before kick-off to alert them to poor conditions. In the Premier League, a pitch inspection will take place early on matchday to minimise disruption for travelling supporters and prevent unnecessary journeys.
The referee will initially consult with the head of ground staff at the home club, as they are best equipped to assess how the pitch reacts to wintry conditions and whether it’s likely to degrade.
Next, the official will carry out a pitch inspection wearing their match boots, meticulously examining the playing surface with a match ball, scrutinising every possible area to ensure the surface behaves as expected. If there are concerns about the pitch, the referee will confer with the ground staff to see if a solution can be found.
However, predicting weather conditions or the temperature during a match isn’t always feasible, so an official might have to call off the game halfway through. If the weather worsens during a match to the point where the referee can no longer guarantee player safety or is worried about the quality of the spectacle, they will discuss this with the Premier League Match Manager.
This individual will then communicate directly with the Premier League Match Centre, who will promptly inform fans via the Premier League’s digital channels and announcements by major broadcasters.
There are also scenarios where a fixture might be called off due to circumstances completely beyond the referee’s control. It’s frequently the situation that a venue’s safety officer may harbour worries about ensuring supporter wellbeing within the stadium, or the Safety Advisory Group might consider the conditions surrounding or close to the ground to pose a threat based on police guidance.
A recent illustration of this occurred with the postponement of the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool on 7 December 2024. An official statement released by Everton explained: “Following a Safety Advisory Group meeting at Goodison Park, attended by officials from both clubs, as well as representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council this morning, it was decided that, due to the risk to safety in the local area due to strong wind gusts, and an amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 06:00 on Sunday, today’s fixture should be postponed on safety grounds.”
Such a decision to postpone is never made without serious consideration and typically represents the final option available.
