Gary Lineker has praised the moving tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at the Oval today and shared his disappointment that football couldn’t do the same this weekend.
On Friday it was decided by the Premier League and the Football Association that the football calendar would be postponed this weekend as a mark of respect over the passing of The Queen.
The decision spilt opinion among fans and people in the game, and Match of the Day host Lineker believes that football missed an opportunity by not continuing with the weekend’s fixtures.
Gary Lineker believes football missed an opportunity by cancelling this weekend’s fixtures
Lineker took to Twitter to share his views after watching the tribute at The Oval on Saturday
Fans pay tribute to The Queen with a minute’s silence before England and South Africa’s game
Taking to his Twitter account the former England striker said.
‘Given the wonderful and moving scenes at The Oval, it feels a real shame that football is not taking place this weekend, therefore missing the opportunity to pay its respects.’
The England and Wales Cricket Board cancelled all fixtures on Friday after the announcement of the The Queen’s passing, but resumed matches on Saturday for all international, domestic, and recreational games.
Players of both England and South Africa wore black armbands as a mark of respect
Before England’s Third Test with South Africa at the Oval, a minute silence was observed by those in attendance, and there was a moving rendition of God Save The King sung for the first time at a sporting event.
Both England and South Africa’s players also wore black armbands as cricket paid tribute to the UK’s longest reining monarch after her passing.
Lineker’s sentiments was echoed by fans on social media who were watching the touching scenes at the Oval.
With one fan saying ‘Shame football isn’t allowed to the same, well done to all present’.
The tribute was describes as special by fans watching as The Oval observed a minute silence
While other watchers-on also told football authorities to take in the moving tribute, by stating ‘Well done to the cricket that was special fantastic. Maybe the football should have took note.’
A view that was shared by another sports fan who agreed the scenes should have noted by football’s governing bodies.
Congratulating the Cricket board by saying ‘Well done to @ECB_cricket and @englandcricket @officialSCA @surreycricket that’s how it’s done. And how it should have been done by all the football clubs, take note @EFL @FA.’
Fans took to social media to share frustration that football didn’t follow cricket’s lead
While Midland Football League side Fairfield Villa – whose own fixture against Kenilworth was called off – stated the cancellation of football was the incorrect decision.
‘Watching the impeccable tribute by the England Cricket team and the fans convinced me todays decision to cancel football was WRONG! I feel we have been robbed of showing our respect. RIP your majesty’
The decision to postpone the football fixtures came with some concern that tributes to the Queen may not have been universally respected. With the possibility of global embarrassment if some incidents did occur during tributes.