The Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) will not hold competition-wide tributes to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, according to reports. A total of 67 Britons were among the victims killed in the 2001 attacks in the United States.
This decision stems from a policy established last year by a working group, which concluded that automatic minute's silences for global disasters were diminishing in impact. The World Events Working Group (WEWG), formed in 2024 to guide decision-making for the Premier League, EFL, and the Football Association (FA), determined that league-wide tributes should be reserved for international incidents with a direct link to football.
Following the Manchester synagogue attack last year, only Manchester's clubs observed a minute's silence. This approach contrasts with past practices; for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in 2011, Premier League matches saw moments of silence and players wore black armbands.
The WEWG's remit does not extend to player-led initiatives, such as the 'taking the knee' gesture, which has been incorporated into Premier League match rounds this season.
While there are no top-flight games scheduled for Friday, September 11, West Ham United will host Wrexham in the Championship. The majority of British victims of the 9/11 attacks were at the World Trade Center in New York, with others on planes that struck the Twin Towers.
In the United States, sporting events will feature commemorations for the 25th anniversary. The NFL's opening week will include 'Never Forget' in end zones and 9/11 branded coins for coin tosses, with the coins to be auctioned for charity. A Week One match in Australia will include a pre-game ceremony with Australian and US military members. During the NFL game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, players, coaches, and staff will wear commemorative NYPD, FDNY, and PAPD hats. Baseball games between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets on Friday will also feature pre-game ceremonies.