World Cup 2018: Wimbledon tennis chiefs ban England vs Colombia clash from screens at SW19
Three Lions bid for a place in the last eight at Russia 2018 tonight but the game will not be shown on the big screen on Henman Hill as tournament bosses declare site a World Cup-free zone
WIMBLEDON chiefs have declared the All England Club a World Cup-free zone - including England's clash with Colombia tonight.
SW19 bosses will maintain their policy of not showing the football during their fortnight despite England’s progress to the knockout stages.
Gareth Southgate's side take on Colombia this evening when matches at Wimbledon will still be in full swing.
But tournament organisers have blocked showing coverage of the match on the giant screen situated on Henman Hill, insisting tennis is the only sport that will be on show.
It means there is a risk that thousands of spectators will now clear out of the grounds an hour before kick-off to make their way into Wimbledon Village to find bars showing the football.
But fans will at least be allowed to show their support for the Three Lions – and other nations – by wearing replica shirts.
All England Club chief executive Richard Lewis said: “In previous years we have never shown the football, whether it is the European Championships or the World Cup, and there will be no change to that.
“We think people recognise they are at a tennis event. It has always been an accepted policy.”
Wimbledon has strict rules about all-white clothing for players – and for others if they go on the match courts, as Andy Murray’s coach Jamie Delgado found to his embarrassment on Friday.
But there is no rule to forbid the wearing of football colours in the grounds.
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Lewis has also ruled out moving the time of the men’s singles final on July 15 to avoid clashing with the World Cup Final.
The tennis showpiece is scheduled for a 2pm start, with the football due to begin at 4pm.
Unless the winner can seal victory very quickly, sports fans will face a tough choice between two of the biggest events of the year.
Lewis said: “I can honestly say we had a shot clock on it [a discussion about moving the final] and I am not sure it went up to 25 seconds.
“We just said: ‘Our final is at two o’clock, let’s just stick with it. That’s our tradition, let’s go with it.’
“Otherwise you start saying, ‘Well, who else do we move for? World athletics or something?’
“It has not been a discussion other than: ‘We are two o’clock and that’s it.'"