Premier League drops 9/11 tributes on 25th anniversary after guidance change

The Premier League and Football League clubs will not mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks during this weekend’s fixtures, following a shift in policy that ended automatic tributes for global disasters.

The change was adopted last year after a working group concluded that routine minutes’ silences were losing their significance. English football will now reserve tributes for international incidents with a direct connection to the sport itself. One precedent cited was last year’s minute’s silence held by both Manchester clubs following an attack on a synagogue in the city.

A total of 67 British nationals were among the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 attacks in New York and Washington. Despite Friday marking a full quarter of a century since the atrocities, no Premier League matches are scheduled on the day, and no tribute is planned for the weekend’s fixtures either. The only game on Friday evening is an EFL Championship match between West Ham United and Wrexham at the London Stadium.

The decision stands in contrast to the tenth anniversary in 2011, when a moment’s silence was observed before Premier League matches and players wore black armbands.

The Football Association has faced criticism in recent years over its perceived inconsistency in recognising major global events. The governing body drew particular scrutiny after declining to illuminate the Wembley arch following the October 7, 2023 terror attacks in Israel, having previously lit it in solidarity with Ukraine after Russia’s invasion.

Across the Atlantic, sporting events will continue to honour the anniversary as they do each year. The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys will meet on Sunday night, with players, coaches and staff from both sides wearing commemorative hats on the sideline in recognition of first responders. In baseball, the New York Yankees and New York Mets are scheduled to play at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Friday, where a series of pre-game ceremonies are planned.