The Football Fans Association has called for fans who have been left without money by the postponement of matches following the Queen’s death to be treated sympathetically.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the FSA, has urged railway bosses and football authorities to ensure that fans traveling to away games this weekend do not lose out as a result of the decision to suspend the programme. as a sign of respect.
Clarke told the PA news agency: “There’s a big question about refunds, advance train tickets that have been booked for away games and all that.
“We would certainly expect the rail industry and football authorities to take a very sympathetic view of that.
“This is not a good time to ask fans to spend money on things that don’t happen.”
The Football Association, of which the Queen was a long-time patron, announced on Friday that all matches scheduled for this weekend from the Premier League and EFL to the grassroots game would be postponed.
Other sports, notably cricket, golf and both codes of rugby, chose to go ahead as planned with tribute paid in advance.
The FSA said in a statement on Friday: “We believe that football is at its best when it brings people together at times of great national importance, whether they are times of joy or times of mourning.
“Our view, which we share with the football authorities, is that most fans would have liked to go to matches this weekend and pay their respects to the Queen together with their fellow fans.”
Competitors, officials and spectators like the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the third test between England and South Africa at the Oval and the Betfred Super League play-off tie between Huddersfield and Salford were able to do just that.
Asked if that reinforced the FSA’s point of view, Clarke, who admitted there was a range of views even among its members, said: “We think there were other ways of paying tribute that would actually have been more meaningful. than just canceling everything, particularly with things like children’s soccer.
“I’m sure young people could have found better ways to do that than sitting at home with their Xboxes or going out with their parents to alternative events.”
