English football will not mark Thatcher’s death

Football’s governing bodies in England are not planning to mark the death of Baroness Thatcher this weekend despite suggestions that a one-minute silence should be observed.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan and his Reading counterpart Sir John Madejski said that they would welcome a tribute to the late Lady Thatcher during the weekend fixtures.

Mr Whelan said:“We have got to appreciate that Margaret Thatcher was a world leader who did so much for this country. So much that she deserves a minute’s silence.”

However, neither the Premier League nor the Football League has asked clubs to hold a minute’s silence – or applause – in relation to the former prime minister.

The Football Association, which presides over Wigan’s FA Cup semi-final against Millwall, has also been silent on such a request.