MIDDLESBROUGH and Sunderland’s midweek Championship matches are set to go ahead as planned, with the football schedule poised to resume after a break to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

While a number of high-profile sporting events have taken place this weekend, the entire footballing programme in both the professional and amateur game shut down.

Matches are set to resume tomorrow, with Darlington’s National League North game at Bradford Park Avenue due to go ahead as planned, and there is also expected to be a full programme of matches in the Football League.

The EFL are understood to be happy for games to take place as planned this week, provided there are no local issues over policing or security, which will be dealt with on a game-by-game basis.

That should mean Middlesbrough’s Championship home game with Cardiff City on Monday night is given the go-ahead, while Sunderland’s league match at Reading’s Madejski Stadium on Wednesday evening is also set to take place.

There has been no decision at this stage over next weekend’s planned round of matches in the Premier League and Football League, although the announcement that the Queen’s funeral will take place on Monday, September 19 means the footballing authorities will not be compelled to postpone any games.

Policing and security concerns will have to be taken into consideration though, which could mean matches are allowed to take place in some parts of the country but have to be postponed in others.