<p>LONDON — English soccer is altering its schedule to avoid a clash with the funeral of Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, on April 17.</p>
<p>The English Football League, which runs the three divisions below the top-flight Premier League, said the matches scheduled to start at 3 p.m. that day will be moved so they don’t clash with the funeral service beginning at the same time.</p>
<p>“The EFL will now work with its clubs to determine at what time the matches will be played, giving consideration to the timing of the service,” the league said in a statement on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Premier League has yet to officially comment. Wolverhampton hosts Sheffield United in a 3 p.m. kickoff on April 17. There is another league game earlier that day — Newcastle vs. West Ham — while Chelsea plays Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals in a 5:30 p.m. start. </p>
<p>The British government has left it at the discretion of sports to decide whether to move events.</p>
<p>Philip’s royal ceremonial funeral will take place at Windsor Castle — a slimmed-down service amid the COVID-19 pandemic that will be entirely closed to the public.</p>
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