Eton College condemned for ignoring FA’s ban on football after Queen’s death

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Eton has been condemned for playing two football matches in defiance of the postponement of all fixtures as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Britain’s most famous public school, which has had long-standing links with the royal family, played host to Rossall School just hours after games from the Premier League right down to grass-roots level were called off.

Photographs from Saturday’s matches emerged in a Twitter post from @RossallSport, which showed minute’s silences taking place before they kicked off in honor of the country’s longest-reigning monarch.

The post was later deleted, as was a prior one on both Facebook and Twitter recording a visit by Rossall’s footballers to Windsor Castle en route to nearby Eton.

Among those to raise the alarm was Peter Daly, who runs men’s football team Talking Toffees FC and an associated podcast.

He told Telegraph Sport: “Whilst kids up and down the country were unable to play football this weekend, it seems the same rules don’t apply for Eton.

“It’s the latest example of how the privileged have complete disregard for the rules we’re all supposed to follow.”

Julian Knight MP, the chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee, said it was for individual sports to decide whether to matches but added: “It seems very strange that Eton chooses to play on while millions across the country have been denied playing or watching games. This is a rather embarrassing episode for Britain’s most famous public school.”

Eton said in a statement: “All at Eton College mourn the death of Her Majesty the Queen, remember with gratitude her extraordinary service and offer their deepest sympathy and condolences to the Royal Family. The whole school gathered together on Friday morning to pay their respects and chapel services were held.

“Two friendly football games were played with Rossall School on Saturday. A minute’s silence was observed by players and spectators beforehand. These trial games formed part of the school’s pre-season training program and it was understood that they were not covered by the FA postponement as they were not FA fixtures.”

The Telegraph has been told the FA, the Independent Schools Football Association and the English Schools’ Football Association have no jurisdiction over such matches.

Eton was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI and was attended by both the new Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex.

Rossall, a private boarding school based near Fleetwood, Lancashire, was founded in 1844.

The cancellation of elite and grassroots football – and in particular youth matches – following the death of the late Queen has proven highly controversial.

The opposite decision was taken in rugby union, cricket and most other sports.

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