Scottish sport prepares tribute

The sporting world will pay its respects

Scotland's sporting bodies are deciding on how they will pay tribute to the Queen Mother.

The Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League will discuss their tribute with other Scottish football authorities over the next few days.

The Scottish Rugby Union has said it will fly flags at half-mast during forthcoming fixtures.

All matches, including the BT Cellnet Cup semi-final on Saturday 20 April, will be preceded by a minute's silence.

Football bosses are in discussions

Scotland's Premier League fixtures resume on Saturday 6 April.

Wales host Scotland on the same day, in rugby's Six Nations competition at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

An SPL spokesman said: "This is obviously a very sad day for the nation.

"We have not yet had the opportunity to discuss our response in detail with either our clubs or our colleagues within the other leagues.

"However, we would expect that the league would pay its sincere respects in terms of a minute's silence, players to wear black armbands and all flags to be at half-mast.

'Extended sympathies'

"We will be discussing this in detail in the days ahead before we come to a final decision."

An SRU spokesman passed on "extended sympathies" to the Royal family for their sad loss.

"The flags at Murrayfield will be flying at half-mast and all club games, including the BT Cellnet Cup semi-final between Glasgow Hawks and Heriot's FP, will be preceded by a minute's silence," he said.

"All club flags will also fly at half-mast on Sunday."