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LONDON. — Arsenal’s Europa League football tie with PSV Eindhoven has been postponed because of “severe limitations on police resources” following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The match was due to take place at Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
UEFA said a new date for the match would be communicated in due course.
However, BBC Sport understands Chelsea’s Champions League group stage match against Red Bull Salzburg tomorrow will go ahead as planned.
European football governing body UEFA is satisfied all security needs around the game will be met at Stamford Bridge.
Around 3 000 PSV fans were expected at the match.
A UEFA statement announcing the postponement, said: “This is due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
Yesterday, it was announced that English Football League fixtures will return from today after football paused as a mark of respect following the Queen’s death.
Tributes will be paid to the Queen — who died on Thursday — at grounds, with a minute’s silence to be held before matches and the national anthem played.
Black armbands will be worn and flags will be flown at half-mast.
All English, Welsh and Northern Irish football and senior Scottish football was postponed over the weekend.
National League fixtures will go ahead from last night, but the English Premier League is yet to make an announcement about the games to be played between September 16 and 18.
In a statement, the EFL said it would “continue to work with forces in respect of any challenges that may emerge regarding policing of specific fixtures”.
It added: “Consideration to individual circumstances will be made on a case-by-case basis, in line with standard match Safety Advisory Group protocols.”
There are six Championship fixtures scheduled for today, alongside full programmes in League One and League Two. There are then six more Championship matches tomorrow.
Policing games could be a factor in decisions if forces are redeployed to London before the Queen’s state funeral on Monday, September 19.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs Council said: “UK Policing is working closely with other organisations to ensure events are held safely and with the appropriate security. — BBC Sport
Online Reporter