Sporting events scheduled for Friday have been cancelled across the United Kingdom as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
The death of Elizabeth II, 96, who was the country's longest-reigning monarch and served as head of state for more than 70 years, was announced on Thursday evening.
Tributes poured in from sports governing bodies and personalities, including the Irish Rugby Football Union.
"The IRFU express our condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth," it said in a tweet. "Our sympathies are with our friends in the Home Unions and their supporters."
Horse racing
The late queen owned horses that recorded over 1,600 wins - including every English Classic except the Derby - and Horse Racing Ireland saluted "a lifetime enriched by a love of racing".
Remembering Queen Elizabeth II and a lifetime enriched by a love of racing.
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) September 8, 2022
"Our world is a poorer place for her passing but a far richer and better place as a result of her long life and enduring contribution. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis."
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin pic.twitter.com/4c1odLxegw
Racing at Southwell and Chelmsford on Thursday evening was abandoned. The British Horseracing Authority also announced the meetings scheduled for Friday – including the third day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster – have also been cancelled.
Six-time champion trainer Nicky Henderson had been the Queen's primary jumps trainer since 2002, also trained for the Queen Mother and has been close to the royal family for many years. He said her loss was immeasurable.
"Racing has lost its best friend and greatest patron, but the country has lost its Queen – but she was more than a Queen. The country has lost somebody who was its greatest servant. She was absolutely the greatest."
Golf
Play at the PGA Championship golf at Wentworth was suspended on Thursday evening when the news broke, and it was later confirmed that there would be no play on Friday.
"Out of respect for Her Majesty and the Royal Family, play has been suspended at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club for the remainder of Thursday and flags at Wentworth Club will be lowered to half-mast," a European Tour statement said.
"Furthermore, no play will take place at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday and the golf course and practice facilities will be closed.
"Further updates on the resumption of play will be provided in due course."
Soccer
The Irish FA has announced that all football in Northern Ireland scheduled for this weekend will not take place.
The governing body said in a statement: "As a mark of respect following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this weekend's fixtures across all affiliated football in Northern Ireland, and all other organised football activity, at all levels, have been postponed."
The Premier League is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II. Our thoughts and condolences are with The Royal Family and everyone around the world mourning the loss of Her Majesty. pic.twitter.com/UlaLXEOdke
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 8, 2022
The Premier League tweeted its condolences but there was no indication that the weekend's programme of games, beginning with Fulham hosting Chelsea at 12.30pm Saturday, would be disrupted.
Manchester United's home clash in the Europa League with Real Sociedad went ahead, with the club saying in a statement: "Following direction from the FA and UEFA, tonight’s UEFA Europa League fixture against Real Sociedad will take place as planned at Old Trafford.
The raucous visiting fans went silent and United supporters’ anti-Glazer chants stopped before kick-off as Old Trafford held a minute’s silence in the Queen's memory.
There had been no pre-match music and the digital advertising hoardings were switched off following the news that arrived as turnstiles opened to the ground. Both sets of players donned black armbands, with United manager Erik ten Hag wearing one over his suit.
The English Football League confirmed that Friday's matches – the Championship game between Burnley and Norwich and the League Two clash between Tranmere and Stockport – had been postponed and said: "A determination regarding the remainder of this weekend’s scheduled fixtures will be made following a review of the official mourning guidance.
EFL chair Rick Parry said: "On behalf of the league and its clubs, we join the rest of the nation and people across the world in mourning the passing of our Queen, Elizabeth II.
"The thoughts of everybody at the EFL and our clubs are with the Royal Family at this sad time for our country."
The SPFL announced that Friday's cinch Championship contest between Dundee and Cove Rangers has been postponed.
The league added that an update on fixtures scheduled for Saturday would be provided on Friday.
Rugby
The Scottish RFU's decision to call off all their games this weekend means Friday's scheduled pre-season friendly between Glasgow and Ulster in Scotstoun will no longer go ahead.
In a statement, Ulster Rugby expressed its "sincere condolences to the Royal Family".
In England, Northampton announced the postponement of their Premiership Rugby Cup clash against Saracens scheduled for Thursday evening.
Cricket
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced the second day's play in the men’s Test match between England and South Africa had been cancelled.
The ECB tweeted: "Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Friday’s play between England and South Africa men at The Oval, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, will not take place. For fixtures beyond Friday, updates will be provided in due course."
The British Olympic Association and a host of other sports governing bodies paid tribute to The Queen.
"The British Olympic Association is incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen in her Jubilee year," its statement read. "The thoughts of the entire British Olympic community are with our President HRH The Princess Royal, the Royal Family and the nation at this sad time."
