WILL CLARK – Sport got it wrong to cancel matches after Queen's death
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THE entire sporting calendar in Scotland appears to be wiped out this weekend as a mark of respect to the death of the Queen.
Football, rugby and shinty have all been suspended as a result of her passing following suit of other sports across the United Kingdom.
But not all of them.
The English Rugby Football Union have made the decision to allow games to go ahead this weekend.
It says the overwhelming opinions shared within the game are teams and supporters wanted to come together to honour the Queen and to be united in their grief to express sorrow at her passing.
It was their belief that allowing rugby matches and activities to go ahead, with family and friends congregating together would help unite the country at a time of national mourning.
I think their reasoning is spot on and is the right decision to make.
I think Scottish sport has got it wrong by suspending matches this weekend, both at senior or junior level.
I get it, and respect why, the Scottish Professional Football League, Highland League, North Caledonian League, Scottish Women's Football, Scottish Junior Football, Scottish Rugby and Camanachd Association came to their decisions to put games on hold, even if I do not agree with them.
They wanted to be seen as not being disrespectful to the memory of the former Queen, and were compelled to cancel all matches in their respective competitions as the best way of honouring her life.
But I don't think that was the best way to honour her memory.
I think by allowing matches to go ahead, allowing people to come together to show their respect, through a minute's applause or silence, would have been more appropriate to mark her life.
Of course, there was always the danger that it would have been seen as an opportunity for people to voice their negative feelings towards the monarchy.
I'm no royalist, but I respect a woman who was a public figure who meant a lot to people has died.
But cancelling all sport in Scotland is unnecessary, an inconvenience, and a missed opportunity for people to show respect, whatever the risk of negative reaction.
Youth sport has also been affected, all Highland League under-16 and under-18 games are cancelled tomorrow.
Kids should have the opportunity to take part in sport activities and exercise, but this weekend they will be stuck indoors and denied the opportunity of being active.
We've just emerged from a pandemic which put life on hold for so long, where people, for the right reasons, were unable to attend to mass sporting events and take part in team sports.
The Queen's death was another reason where people should have been allowed to come together.
So instead of being at the Caledonian Stadium covering the Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Hamilton Academical match, I am left contemplating if the grass in my garden is dry enough to get the lawn mower out.
It is not yet known how fixtures next weekend will be affected as the mourning period continues. But allow people to show their respect by holding a minute's silence or applause together and not be apart.
