Piers Morgan: Cancelling football after Queen's death is 'ridiculous'

Watch: God Save the King sung before third Test between England and South Africa

Piers Morgan has criticised the cancellation of football matches this weekend following the Queen's death at the age of 96.

The official mourning guidance, published by the Government on Friday morning, stated there was no obligation on sports organisations to cancel or reschedule events.

Yet the UK’s football authorities opted to postpone all domestic fixtures planned for this weekend.

Matches in the Premier League, English Football League and the Women’s Super League have been called off, along with all games at all levels in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

However, many other sporting occasions will go ahead, offering spectators and participants opportunities to pay their respects at venues.

Read more: When is the bank holiday for the Queen's funeral?

On Saturday, the third Test between England and South Africa got under way after the opening day was washed out before day two was cancelled following the announcement from Buckingham Palace.

A minute's silence was observed at the Kia Oval before the test got underway, before the new national anthem of "God Save The King" was sung - marking the first time it had been done so first time at a televised sporting event since the Queen's death.

All players and coaches wore black armbands while there was no branded advertising by the boundary edge.

Morgan tweeted: "Magnificent. This is exactly how the sporting world should be paying respects to Her Majesty, and our new King. Ridiculous that football was cancelled."

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Read more: The King’s address in full

It was not the first time the TV presenter criticised the decision to postpone matches.

At the time it was announced, Morgan tweeted: 'Ridiculous decision'.

He went on to say: "Sporting events should go ahead. a) The Queen loved sport and b) It would be great to see/hear huge crowds singing the National Anthem in tribute to Her Majesty, as West Ham fans did so magnificently last night."

Former England player Peter Crouch agreed, saying playing the matches would have been a better mark of respect for the late Queen.

He said: "I know it’s only a game and some things are much bigger but imagine all our games went ahead this weekend.

"Black armbands, silences observed, national anthem, Royal band playing etc to the millions around the world watching ? Isn’t that a better send off?"

Football journalist Colin Millar said there was "no precedent" for this, and the same did not happen following the death of King George in 1952.

He said: "There is no precedent for this in English football (which was not postponed in 1952) and the logic of the population having leisure activities cancelled while work continuing as normal is entirely inconsistent logic."