Quake causes cancellation of Christchurch football game

Canterbury United and Auckland City players during an ASB premiership match in Christchurch last year. Their scheduled game on Sunday was cancelled after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch.

The Canterbury United-Auckland City ASB Premiership national league match has been called off after Sunday's Christchurch earthquake.

Mainland Football operations manager Colin Grant said the English Park venue was closed by the Christchurch City Council "because of the severity of the [5.7 magnitude] quake."

Grant said the main stand and associated amenities building was owned by the council and "it's been shut down until it gets inspected".

"That might be a couple of days or it could be a couple of weeks."

Grant said the Auckland City squad were stranded at Wellington Airport with their Christchurch flight delayed.

He said it would be up to New Zealand Football to find a date to reschedule the fixture.

Meanwhile, Canterbury Cricket chief executive Lee Germon said Hagley Oval - venue for the second cricket test match against Australia - appeared to be unscathed in the quake.

He said there was no damage to the pitch or the Hadlee stand, but engineers will check on Monday "to be safe"