UEFA rejects requests from Chelsea, Manchester City and Rangers to play national anthem before Champions League matches

Chelsea, Manchester City and Rangers are understood to have requested to play God Save the King following a period of silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, but UEFA confirms that no anthems will be played before Wednesday's Champions League fixtures

By Geraint Hughes and Sahil Jaidka

Image: UEFA confirms that anthems will not be played at Champions League games on Wednesday

UEFA has rejected requests from Chelsea, Manchester City and Rangers to play the national anthem before Wednesday's Champions League matches.

The three British clubs are understood to have made requests to play God Save the King following a period of silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

However, it is understood some supporters will defy this move, with Rangers fans expected to pay tribute to The Queen and sing the anthem before kick-off at Ibrox.

Image: Only Rangers fans will attend the Champions League match against Napoli at Ibrox

UEFA, who had already decided against playing its Champions League anthem, told Sky Sports News: "There will be no anthems played - this also includes the UEFA Champions League anthem - on the basis of maintaining a consistent pre-match ceremony with a subdued atmosphere and without any celebratory activities across all UK venues to show respect as we did last Thursday."

Only Rangers supporters will be in attendance for their match against Napoli which was moved from Tuesday to Wednesday due to policing resources, with no away fans being permitted at the match in Naples too for sporting integrity.

Across all Champions League matches involving UK clubs, players will wear black armbands in memory of The Queen and take part in a moment of silence.

Which football matches are going ahead this week?

Football across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was postponed last weekend as a mark of respect to The Queen after her passing aged 96 on Thursday.

Most of the Premier League fixtures will be played this weekend, but a lack of police numbers means Manchester United vs Leeds and Chelsea vs Liverpool on Sunday have been postponed over a lack of police numbers.

Brighton vs Crystal Palace had already been postponed due to rail strikes.

All Champions League fixtures involving British teams will go ahead, although Rangers vs Napoli has been moved back 24 hours to Wednesday

EFL and non-League matches will resume from Tuesday, while the FA has confirmed the Women's Super League and grassroots football will also return this weekend.

The FA also said that all football will be suspended on Monday September 19, the day of the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey.

Here is a full list of this week's football fixtures:

Premier League

Friday September 16

  • Aston Villa vs Southampton - 8pm, live on Sky Sports
  • Nottingham Forest vs Fulham - 8pm

Saturday September 17

  • Wolves vs Man City - 12.30pm
  • Brighton P-P Crystal Palace
  • Newcastle vs Bournemouth - 3pm
  • Tottenham vs Leicester - 5,30pm, live on Sky Sports

Sunday September 18

  • Brentford vs Arsenal - 12pm, live on Sky Sports
  • Manchester United P-P Leeds
  • Everton vs West Ham - 2.15pm, live on Sky Sports
  • Chelsea P-P Liverpool

Champions League

Tuesday September 13

  • Sporting Lisbon vs Tottenham - 5.45pm
  • Liverpool vs Ajax - 8pm

Wednesday September 14

  • Chelsea vs Red Bull Salzburg - 8pm
  • Shakhtar Donetsk vs Celtic - 5.45pm
  • Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund - 8pm
  • Rangers vs Napoli - 8pm

Europa League

Thursday September 15

  • Arsenal P-P PSV
  • Sherriff Tiraspol vs Manchester United - 5.45pm

Europa Conference League

Thursday September 15

  • FK RFS vs Hearts - 8pm
  • Silkeborg vs West Ham - 8pm

Sky Bet Championship

Tuesday September 13 - All 7.45pm unless stated

  • Blackburn Rovers vs Watford
  • Huddersfield vs Wigan
  • Hull vs Stoke
  • Middlesbrough vs Cardiff
  • Swansea vs Sheffield United
  • Preston vs Burnley - 8pm

Wednesday September 14 - All 7.45pm unless stated

  • Luton vs Coventry
  • Millwall vs QPR
  • Norwich vs Bristol City
  • Rotherham vs Blackpool
  • Reading vs Sunderland
  • West Brom vs Birmingham - 8pm

Saturday September 17 - All 3pm unless stated

  • Swansea vs Hull City - 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports
  • Norwich vs West Brom
  • QPR vs Stoke
  • Luton Town vs Blackburn
  • Preston vs Sheffield United
  • Wigan vs Reading
  • Watford vs Sunderland
  • Birmingham vs Coventry
  • Burnley vs Bristol City
  • Millwall vs Blackpool
  • Huddersfield vs Cardiff
  • Middlesbrough vs Rotherham - 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports

Sky Bet League One

Tuesday September 13 - All 7.45pm

  • Barnsley vs Port Vale
  • Burton vs Portsmouth
  • Charlton vs Forest Green
  • Cheltenham vs Cambridge
  • Ipswich vs Bristol Rovers
  • Lincoln vs Derby
  • MK Dons vs Bolton
  • Morecambe vs Sheffield Wednesday
  • Peterborough vs Fleetwood
  • Plymouth vs Oxford
  • Shrewsbury vs Exeter
  • Wycombe vs Accrington

Saturday September 17 - All 3pm unless stated

  • Bolton vs Peterborough
  • Oxford United vs MK Dons
  • Derby vs Wycombe
  • Portsmouth vs Plymouth Argyle
  • Exeter City vs Burton
  • Fleetwood vs Charlton
  • Port Vale vs Shrewsbury
  • Sheffield Wednesday vs Ipswich Town
  • Bristol Rovers vs Lincoln City
  • Accrington Stanley vs Cheltenham
  • Cambridge United vs Barnsley
  • Forest Green vs Morecambe

Sky Bet League Two

Tuesday September 13 - All 7.45pm

  • AFC Wimbledon vs Northampton
  • Barrow vs Doncaster
  • Crawley vs Stockport
  • Grimsby vs Gillingham
  • Harrogate vs Salford
  • Hartlepool vs Crewe
  • Mansfield vs Carlisle
  • Rochdale vs Leyton Orient
  • Stevenage vs Newport
  • Swindon vs Sutton
  • Tranmere vs Bradford
  • Walsall vs Colchester

Saturday September 17 - All 3pm unless stated

  • Leyton Orient vs Walsall
  • Newport County vs Barrow
  • Northampton vs Rochdale
  • Sutton United vs Hartlepool
  • Gillingham vs Mansfield
  • Stockport vs Harrogate
  • Bradford vs Stevenage
  • Carlisle vs AFC Wimbledon
  • Crewe vs Crawley
  • Colchester vs Grimsby
  • Salford vs Tranmere
  • Doncaster vs Swindon

Women's Super League

Friday 16th September

  • Arsenal vs Brighton - 7.30pm

Saturday 17th September

  • Manchester United vs Reading - 12pm

Sunday 18th September

  • Aston Villa vs Manchester City
  • Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
  • West Ham vs Everton
  • Liverpool vs Chelsea - Rescheduled for 5pm, live on Sky Sports

Scottish Premiership

Saturday September 17 - All 3pm unless stated

  • Hibernian vs Aberdeen
  • Livingston vs Kilmarnock
  • Rangers vs Dundee United
  • St. Johnstone vs Ross County

Sunday September 18

  • St Mirren vs Celtic, 12pm, live on Sky Sports
  • Motherwell vs Hearts - 3pm

Scottish Championship

Saturday September 17 - All 3pm

  • Dundee vs Inverness CT
  • Hamilton Academical vs Queen's Park
  • Morton vs Arbroath
  • Partick Thistle vs Cove Rangers
  • Raith Rovers vs Ayr United

Scottish League 1

Saturday September 17 - All 3pm

  • Airdrieonians vs Clyde
  • Alloa Athletic vs Montrose
  • Dunfermline Athletic vs Falkirk
  • Peterhead vs Kelty Hearts
  • Queen Of The South vs Edinburgh City

Scottish League 2

Saturday September 17 - All 3pm

  • Albion Rovers vs Forfar Athletic
  • Annan Athletic vs East Fife
  • Dumbarton vs Bonnyrigg Rose
  • Stenhousemuir vs Elgin City
  • Stirling Albion vs Stranraer