Snow-go zone: Stamford Bridge appears clear
of danger in this picture taken at 2pm on Sunday - two hours before
the game was due to start
The decision to postpone the eagerly-awaited clash
between Chelsea and Manchester United was taken by the Metropolitan
Police and Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Health and safety concerns meant the Barclays Premier
League fixture was postponed more than 27 hours before Sunday's
scheduled 4pm kick-off.
A Chelsea spokesman said: 'The match was postponed on
health and safety grounds. The decision was taken between the local
authority, the club and the police.
'With the downpour of snow on Saturday morning, it wasn't
just conditions around the stadium but the whole Fulham area. There
were concerns about people getting to the ground, as well as
staffing at the game and police staffing.'
United defender Rio Ferdinand was less than impressed.
Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: 'Did any1 see the Ipswich game
yesterday? Pitch covered in snow... so how was that game played and
ours (premier league) is postponed?
Game on: Wasps clash at Adams Park went ahead
despite the snowy conditions
'It's our country's fault - we can't deal with
snow. How did we not prepare ourselves though? It's not like it
crept up on us, we knew it was coming.'
Ferdinand then commented 'Wow' on a post from a fan on
Saturday, which read: 'No Heineken Cup rugby games have been called
off - do rugby fans travel on different roads to football
fans?'
A deluge of snow hit west London on Saturday morning. Snow
was also forecast between 3-6pm yesterday, with temperatures
dipping to -2˚C.
Some train services between Manchester and Euston were
cancelled yesterday afternoon but the District Line on the London
Underground, which serves Stamford Bridge, reported a 'good
service'.
There would have been no problems with the pitch. Stamford
Bridge has a water pipe system, which acts like a radiator as hot
water is pumped under the pitch.
A police spokesman said: 'There were concerns over public
safety. Clubs generally do a very good job of getting the stadium
fit for use, but travel to and from the game would have been
difficult.
'Clubs liaise with the police in the run-up to a game and
are in regular contact. The final decision is made by the
club.'
In fact, this is not the case. Under Premier League rule
E13, a match can be postponed or abandoned only if it clashes with
a Champions League, Europa League or FA Cup fixture; by 'order of
the police or any other authority exercising its statutory powers',
with the approval or on the instruction of the referee or with the
'prior written consent' of the Premier League board.
The home club cannot make the decision. The Premier League
was satisfied the match should be postponed, but United were happy
to travel. They planned to take the 2.34pm train from Manchester
Piccadilly on Saturday. But at 12.50pm, manager Sir Alex Ferguson
learned the game was off.
'No Heineken Cup rugby games have been called off - do rugby
fans travel on different roads to football fans?'
