Sport hit by fuel crisis

Teams may face playing before reduced crowds

Despite government pledges of a return to normality, the ongoing fuel crisis is continuing to impact on the country's sporting fixtures.

Peterborough's home clash with Oxford on Thursday has become the first speedway casualty of the fuel crisis, while the Scottish Premier League are to have an emergency meeting to discuss this weekend's fixtures.

And even if fixtures are not called off, reduced crowds are expected.

The East of England Showground club took the decision to call the Elite League fixture off as they are concerned about the getting enough tyres delivered for the meeting.

Co-promoter Ian Jarvis said: "We will re-arrange the meeting as soon as possible. We can't get enough tyres for the riders, and the crowd would be hit."

Despite the fact that most of the UK's filling stations remain closed, the fuel shortage's effect on sport has been surprisingly slight, but that could change.

Postponed

The Second Division match between Bristol City and Brentford at Ashton Gate was the only one of Tuesday's bumper crop of domestic and European matches to be postponed due to the fuel problems.

However, the Scottish Premier League are to hold an emergency meeting with their 12 clubs tomorrow to see if the weekend's five top flight matches can go ahead.

The continuing fuel crisis leaves Scotland in danger of being without a single football match as the Scottish League are also considering wholesale postponements.

The SPL will decide on Thursday whether their matches can go ahead despite the travel problems brought about by the crisis.

The clubs fear attendances will be down because fans will be unable to travel, with Aberdeen supporters due to make the day's longest SPL journey, to Kilmarnock.

SPL spokesman Alex Barr said: "We are looking at the fuel situation to see if the games can go ahead.

"We are making every effort and at the moment everything is still on. But obviously much will depend on how the situation develops."

We are looking at the fuel situation to see if the games can go ahead.

  Alex Barr, Scottish Premier League

The Rugby Football Union have issued guidelines to Zurich Premiership clubs to try and get around the fuel shortages.

Clubs have been advised to try and fulfil their fixtures, considering alternative travel arrangements such as rail and also the possibility of reversing the fixture where one club is unable to secure travel arrangements.

All clubs have been ordered to set a deadline by which time their game must either be called off or a commitment be made to go ahead with the fixture.

Sleepover

Rugby League looks set to escape cancellations with derby games taking place on both Friday and Saturday as the regular season approaches its conclusion.

St Helens players were told earlier this week it might be necessary to sleep at their Knowsley Road ground and Wigan's stars have been advised to share cars in order to turn up for training as they prepare for the trip to Saints.

Super League's Andrew Whitelam said the situation was being monitored on a day-by-day basis but no fixtures were expected to be cancelled.

"We are wary of the possible difficulties, but with several local derby games taking place that eases the situation," said Whitelam.

Racing has already escaped one cancellation after today's meeting at Beverley was cleared to go ahead when the course operators found the fuel for the two ambulances required to allow the meeting to go ahead.

Meetings in doubt

However, tomorrow's card at Pontefract is under doubt as the same problem with providing ambulance cover has arisen there.

And officials at Ayr have warned that the crisis could ruin the course's prestige three-day Western Meeting which begins on Thursday.

Fuel shortages have yet to seriously effect sport

The sports most under threat appear to be motor racing and motorcycling.

With circuits located in rural areas attendances could also be smaller than normal as motor sport fans struggle to find fuel to get to circuits.

The organisers of the British Touring Car Championship races at Silverstone in Northamptonshire and the British Superbike round at Mallory Park, Leicestershire are also worried about being able to obtain ambulance cover for what might be seen as a non-essential purpose.

The British Superbike Championship round at Mallory Park will go ahead, the circuit operators have confirmed.

Officials at the Leicestershire track have secured sufficient ambulance and marshal cover for the racing to take place.