LONDON: England's Premier League said on Tuesday that it will not be asking football clubs to observe a minute's silence in memory of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who died aged 87 on Monday after suffering a stroke.

There was no minute's silence before Monday night's encounter between Manchester United and Manchester City and the Premier League has confirmed that it will be left to individual clubs to decide if they wish to pay tribute.

The Football League has adopted the same stance.

The FA Cup semi-finals are due to take place at London's Wembley Stadium this weekend but the Football Association is reported to have no plans to mark Thatcher's passing.

Conservative Party politician Thatcher was Britain's prime minister from 1979 to 1990 and won three successive general elections but was a divisive figure among football fans.

Her plans to eradicate hooliganism by introducing a controversial identity card scheme were deeply unpopular and she was also blamed for destroying traditional industries in the northern towns and cities that are home to many of England's football clubs.