Grassroots football in Wales will go ahead this weekend after a decision to cancel following the Queen' death was heavily criticised. Many parents were angered that football for children was cancelled on Saturday, when rugby matches were allowed to go ahead.
Even former Wales international Joe Ledley called the decision "nonsensical" saying that children needed routine and exercise to socialise.
He said on Twitter: "Children needs (sic) routine, they need exercise and they need to socialise. To cancel football for them this weekend is nonsensical & damaging. While grassroots rugby has been able to carry on as usual highlights the stupidity of that decision."
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Responding to the criticism, FAW chief executive Noel Mooney confirmed that football in Wales will restart from Tuesday (September 13), and matches will take place this weekend. There is still a question mark over what will happen on the day of the Queen's football on Monday, September 19. See the bank holiday rules on the day of the funeral here.
Explaining the FAW's decision, he told BBC Wales on Monday: "It was a unique situation for us because we have never known another monarch, so it was unchartered territory for any sport. With football, we are the highest participation sport across Cymru and we are very aware of the responsibilities that lie with that. There is no other sport that has the same amount of matches or teams, and all the different logistics that go with that.
"On Friday morning, we had clubs that were looking for certainty because they were travelling on Friday night. They were looking for decisiveness. We realised that the Premier and Football League were quickly being cancelled so we had to make a decision at that moment. We totally understand if there were children who would have liked to play at the weekend.
"We have a slogan 'Together Stronger' and we didn't believe in breaking people up, It wouldn't have been fair that if you were 19 years of age you could play but if you were 18 you couldn't or vice versa. We didn't believe in that and we had to make a call on Friday morning. We decided to offer a decisive call on Friday morning.
"We have about 40 weeks of football a year, and it is not like Ironman where they have one a year so I understand why that went ahead. We looked at our scheduling, we could easily absorb a weekend and we felt that it was the right thing to do."
Speaking about matches going ahead this weekend, he added: "We play a huge role in the mental health of the country every, single week. We get the vast majority of decisions right. We are very happy to accept feedback, we don't have the majority on brilliant decisions, but we do try and make every decision correctly in the interest of football.
"We are back on Tuesday, we will be playing next weekend and we are just keeping an eye on the day of the funeral. We will be taking advice from the government on that.
"Our philosophy is to keep football on. We take advice from government. Our interest is keeping as much football on. The faster we go back and get men, women and children back on those football pitches the better."
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