People do realise that there are football teams outside of London don't they? If the met has particular issues, understandable, then cancel based on localised issues. They don't affect other parts of the country though.
Swango1980
Well-known member
I'm sure there have been huge events in the UK before that haven't resulted in all football been cancelled? I bet if someone like the President of the US was to visit the UK, it would require a large amount of police, but still doubtful football would be cancelled.
As far as I am aware, the government or police did not ask for football to be cancelled? If they couldn't cope, I'm sure they would have demanded it.
Even if they couldn't cope in London, I'm pretty sure there were one or 2 games scheduled outside of London this weekend? I reckon they could have continued.
So, had football been cancelled out if respect, or because it had to due to no police? I think both are tame excuses once you actually think about it, personally.
PJ87
Journeyman Pro
All the events listed above are planned well in advance
The death of the queen wasn't planned, it just was thrust upon the country.
You say oh in London but how many grounds are London alone which use met police who are now busy
Swango1980
Well-known member
And yet the police didn't ask for football to be cancelled? I still find it interesting you think they would have struggled, yet it appears it was a decision purely made by FA.
Sure, the Queen passing away wasn't planned. However, surely you must have a pretty low opinion of the police if you feel they would struggle to cope with such unplanned events? I'm pretty sure thet are pretty good at reacting to such things. In fact, was Operation London Bridge not part of the planning of such an event? If so, they've been planning for this for over 60 years I believe.
It is also not difficult to know where more attention needs to be focused in London. Buckingham Palace would be a good start.
PJ87
Journeyman Pro
operation london bridge may have been planned for over 60 years but you dont exactly arrange coverage for it for the next 60 years.
ive seen it before when the police were too busy to police a game so they got us to close upton park station to make the fans disperse via the streets to the surrounding stations so the crowds (smaller then) would be spread rather than in one place.
Queen’s funeral will be ‘biggest policing and protective operation the UK has ever mounted’
lifted from an article , the police are already a lot busier than last weekend.
It would not surprise me if next weekend was cancelled aswell.
Queen's death: Around 10,000 police officers on duty per day in UK’s biggest security operation
Around 10,000 police officers could be on duty every day in London in the lead up to the Queen’s funeral as part of the biggest security operation the country has ever seen.
I think a lot are underestimating just how major the security efforts will be.. and extra officers dont just appear from london.. it will be from all over the country.
JSims
Member
Given that there's over 40,000 police officers in The Met, that doesn't seem a dramatically huge number.
PJ87
Journeyman Pro
Well considering rest days, leave and other things are needed 10 days of mourning plus the funeral and 24 hour coverage that 40,000 will be stretched
So policing all the football ... Low priority
JSims
Member
An adjustment - 33000 police 9000 support staff. I
And indeed, the are likely to be stretched. But I'm sure there were already plans for such an event.
4LEX
Well-known member
According to Twitter the reason football was cancelled is because Celtic & Liverpool fans couldn’t be trusted to show respect ?
Crazy world we live in ?
Not sure that's the real reason but I've no doubt they'll be boos at Celtic's next game if theres a silence.
JSims
Member
And you believe what you read on Twitter?According to Twitter the reason football was cancelled is because Celtic & Liverpool fans couldn’t be trusted to show respect ?
Crazy world we live in ?
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Nope,that’s why I said it’s a crazy world ?And you believe what you read on Twitter?
??????Swango1980
Well-known member
I guess the FA and the government got away with one then.
As far as I read, the government said sport could go ahead, and it was to the discretion of each organisation. I believe the FA said games would be cancelled as a mark of respect. I didn't hear them suggest they could not be policed (although I've no doubt some might throw that about in future to justify the decision, considering all other sport was allowed and the respect excuse no longer washes).
So, if indeed the police forces would have struggled to cope, as you suggest, it seems pure luck the games were called off.
4LEX
Well-known member
You don't get many Police at games these days unless it's a Cat C fixture. A lot of games will be Police free.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
They can have as many police as they like but if fans want to boo the queen they will do it.
It’s their right to protest as they see fit.
Some might not like it but that’s tough.
Personally think it’s not right , but not everyone loves the queen.
4LEX
Well-known member
Reckon Liverpool fans will boo? Given recent history of booing the national anthem at cup finals?
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
And that’s exactly why it’s right there games were postponed this weekend- the attitude that’s it’s someone’s “right” to boo during a moment of silence.
They Wouldn’t boo a minutes silence
PJ87
Journeyman Pro
What the gov say publically and privately are different
Cancel sport officially and they take the cost ala covid ...
D
Deleted member 1740
Guest
Well it seems the FA have briefed the media and whilst they've not stated thats the reason, i think it is as
they dont want the backlash from a potential issue.
That said i'm confident a minutes silence would be observed impeccably whether its today or next week, if they tried to enforce singing GSTQ/K then no chance.
If that is the case then its very poor from the FA/PL.
D
Deleted member 1740
Guest
Not Premier League games
PJ87
Journeyman Pro
@Swango1980
I have had a chance to look more into it now
This weekend over the two days you had the following teams all playing in london (or areas covered by met police)
Arsenal
West ham
Palace
Chelsea ladies (these 4 all same days)
Fulham (home to chelsea so a derby)
Tottenham ladies
QPR
Watford (believe covered by the met)
Charlton
We also have england at the oval
and ofc golf at wentworth
its also sept 11th weekend which is always a higher alert (as is july 7th and remembrance sunday)
10,000 police a day needed (someone posted 33,000 officers available) numbers over 24 hours coverage, leave, sickness, days off will be thin
I can tell you first hand today the tubes were busy than I had witnessed since before covid.
now how many 1000 fans would be added on top of the numbers of people in london paying respect or going to other events if the football went ahead.. got to be half a million maybe?
I think they made the correct call canceling the games and I strongly believe the police will have put in a request
It would not surprise me if they were cancelled next weekend aswell
quick add, there are also people marching at scotland yard today (well were) because of the person who was killed the other day by the met
I have had a chance to look more into it now
This weekend over the two days you had the following teams all playing in london (or areas covered by met police)
Arsenal
West ham
Palace
Chelsea ladies (these 4 all same days)
Fulham (home to chelsea so a derby)
Tottenham ladies
QPR
Watford (believe covered by the met)
Charlton
We also have england at the oval
and ofc golf at wentworth
its also sept 11th weekend which is always a higher alert (as is july 7th and remembrance sunday)
10,000 police a day needed (someone posted 33,000 officers available) numbers over 24 hours coverage, leave, sickness, days off will be thin
I can tell you first hand today the tubes were busy than I had witnessed since before covid.
now how many 1000 fans would be added on top of the numbers of people in london paying respect or going to other events if the football went ahead.. got to be half a million maybe?
I think they made the correct call canceling the games and I strongly believe the police will have put in a request
It would not surprise me if they were cancelled next weekend aswell
quick add, there are also people marching at scotland yard today (well were) because of the person who was killed the other day by the met
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