Ex-Fifa official issues ‘big’ FA verdict after new Liverpool development
Keith Hackett has backed the FA’s decision to postpone last weekend’s fixtures as Liverpool head towards a second week without Premier League football.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League official said “the right decision” was taken “as quickly as possible” to minimise the impact on clubs and fans.
On 9 September, the FA announced English football had decided to postpone the weekend’s fixtures as a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Liverpool’s clash against Wolves was one of the games effected by the decision.
As confirmed by the club (12 September), the Reds trip to Stamford Bridge this Sunday has also been postponed.
The game will be rescheduled due to police resources in the capital prior to the Queen’s funeral.
Hackett claimed it is “a big job” to call off a game.
“I think there was a mixed response,” he told Football Insider.
“A lot of people in football were disappointed that the games were called off. The decision was taken as quickly as possible.
“I understand it because at the end of the day the Queen was a long standing patron of the FA. The family support football. Unlike Rugby League, football is projected around the world. People will think, ‘Is that sending the right message?’
“They could have allowed last weekend’s fixtures to go ahead and then would have cancelled the fixtures this week. The week before the Queen’s funeral.
“It was early enough for clubs not to lose too much money. It is quite a big job when a game is called off. It was the right decision.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed Liverpool have a problem ‘bigger’ than Mohamed Salah after Jurgen Klopp refutes claim.