Fixture chaos looms in World Cup year

Football is due for a big freeze this weekend as Britain suffers from the biggest snow fall, iciest and coldest period for years - apparently.

Well, it is bad, that's for sure.

Both midweek Carling Cup semi-final ties were postponed, as was Arsenal's home game with Bolton last night. It's not always the state of the pitch that causes a postponement; in many cases these days it's the travel considerations for the thousands of fans, and their safety in and around the ground.

One game already called off for Saturday is Sheffield Wednesday's home game with Peterborough United. With icy pavements and roads a serious issue, Sheffield Wednesday took the precautionary mesaure of postponing the game.

"While we are still two days away from the fixture against Peterborough, the areas surrounding Hillsborough Stadium are covered in snow and ice," said Sheffield Wednesday chief executive Nick Parker

"It is highly unlikely these areas could be cleared to the extent that would allow fans to come to the game and be guaranteed of their safety.

"Obviously the safety of our supporters is the club's main concern in these circumstances and we would not want to put fans in danger by encouraging them to use icy roads and pavements around Hillsborough."

In League One Oldham v.Leyton Orient, Brighton v. Brentford, Southampton v. Huddersfield and Charlton v. Hartlepool have all fallen victim to the weather, as has Cheltenham's clash with Hereford in League Two.

There are likely to be many more games that fall victim of the weather. With little room in the football calendar for rearrangements the possibility of good old-fashioned "fixture chaos" is beginning to loom large.

And this in a World Cup year. The snow could be bad for England's prospects.