Northern Ireland sporting events postponed following the Queen's death

Friday's Irish Premiership game between Cliftonville and Glentoran is among the Northern Ireland sporting fixtures to be postponed following the Queen's death

A number of sporting events in Northern Ireland have been postponed as a mark of respect following the Queen's death.

The Irish FA said that fixtures across all affiliated football in the country, and all other organised football activity at all levels, will not go ahead.

That includes a full programme of six Irish Premiership matches scheduled for Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

Ulster's rugby friendly in Glasgow on Friday is also off.

All of this weekend's rugby and hockey games in Ulster have also been postponed after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II was announced on Thursday.

"As a mark of respect following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this weekend's fixtures across all affiliated football in Northern Ireland, and all other organised football activity, at all levels, have been postponed," the Irish FA said in a statement on Friday morning.

The Irish Rugby Football Union and Horse Racing Ireland joined other sporting bodies in expressing sadness at the Queen's death.

"The IRFU express our condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth," it said in a tweet. "Our sympathies are with our friends in the Home Unions and their supporters."

Horse Racing Ireland's tribute spoke of the Queen's "love of racing" which included earning wins as a owner in four of the five English classics with only the Derby eluding her.