With a cold snap engulfing England and Wales, several EFL and Non-League games have been called off because of snow and ice warnings
Several weather warnings have been issued around the country
Several weather warnings have been issued around the country
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While Premier League match postponements due to weather conditions have been infrequent in recent seasons, football's governing body has a specific set of rules and regulations that clubs must adhere to. The severe weather over the past 24 hours has affected several games in the EFL and Non-League, with the UK Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for snow and ice.
However, no top-tier matches have been postponed so far ahead of Manchester United's trip to Leeds United and Manchester City's clash with Chelsea.
Nevertheless, if the weather does pose a risk, clubs are required to follow stringent procedures, including liaising with match referees and conducting early pitch inspections. The onus is on the match official to determine whether a pitch is safe and suitable for play.
The two primary factors a referee must consider during a pitch inspection are player safety and the quality of the spectacle for fans. The referee must assess whether the playing conditions pose a threat to the players' safety and whether the conditions could detract from the enjoyment of the spectators.
If there's even a hint that the weather might negatively impact a match, clubs are advised to notify the match referee at least 48 hours before kick-off about the potential poor conditions. In the Premier League, an early pitch inspection is conducted on matchday to minimise inconvenience for travelling supporters and prevent unnecessary journeys.
The referee will initially consult with the head of ground staff at the home club, as they are best placed to understand how the pitch reacts in wintry conditions and whether the pitch is at risk of deteriorating.
The official will then carry out a pitch inspection in their match boots, conducting a comprehensive examination of the playing surface using a match ball, scrutinising every possible area to see if the surface behaves as expected.
If there are concerns about the pitch, the referee will converse with the ground staff to determine if there's a solution to the issue.
However, predicting weather conditions or the temperature during a match isn't always feasible, so an official may have to call off the game halfway through. If the weather worsens during a match to the point where the referee can no longer ensure the safety of the players or is worried about the quality of the match, they will discuss this with the Premier League Match Manager.
They will then communicate directly with the Premier League Match Centre, who will promptly inform fans via the Premier League's digital channels and announcements by major broadcasters.
There are also scenarios where a fixture might be called off for reasons completely beyond the referee's control. It's frequently the situation that a venue's safety officer may harbour worries about ensuring supporter wellbeing within the stadium, or the Safety Advisory Group, who might consider the circumstances surrounding or close to the ground to be hazardous based on police guidance.
A recent illustration of this was the calling off of The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool on 7 December 2024. A statement released by Everton said: "Following a Safety Advisory Group meeting at Goodison Park, attended by officials from both clubs, as well as representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council this morning, it was decided that, due to the risk to safety in the local area due to strong wind gusts, and an amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 06:00 on Sunday, today's fixture should be postponed on safety grounds."
Calling off a match is never a decision made casually and is typically the final option.