Individual clubs can decide to make their own gesture, but FSF is behind the decision not to issue a central edict.

“The FSF backs the decision made by the football authorities not to impose a minute’s silence across all fixtures this weekend to mark the death of Margaret Thatcher,” read the statement.

“Should individual clubs wish to hold a minute’s silence or commemorate the passing of Margaret Thatcher in their own manner that is a matter for them.”

Reading, whose chairman Sir John Madejski yesterday backed a gesture for Thatcher before matches, will be observing a minute’s silence before their game against Liverpool on Saturday.

But instead of being for the former Tory leader, it will be a mark of remembrance for the 96 fans who died at the Hillsborough disaster. The 24th anniversary of the tragedy is on April 15.

Hillsborough also featured in the FSF statement, which added: “We would expect that most fans’ thoughts this weekend will turn to the friends and families of those 96 fellow supporters who lost their lives at Hillsborough 24 years ago.”

A statement on the club’s website confirmed: “Supporters of Reading Football Club and Liverpool Football Club will hold a minute’s silence before Saturday’s fixture at Madejski Stadium as a mark of respect for the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Reading’s statement read: “With the game falling two days before the 24th anniversary of the tragedy, plans began last week for a fitting tribute to the 96 supporters who lost their lives. The Royals contacted Liverpool FC; spoke to the Premier League and they of course agreed it was absolutely correct to pay respect on such an occasion.”

Madejski had earlier heralded Thatcher’s achievements and spoke in favour of making a gesture on behalf of the football world.

“We have got to appreciate that Margaret Thatcher was a world leader who did so much for this country. So much that she deserves a minute’s silence,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“The funeral’s going to take place at St Paul’s (Cathedral), attended by the Queen and Prince Philip, so I think it would be a fitting tribute from the world of football to Margaret Thatcher, one of our greatest leaders.”

The likelihood of Liverpool fans, hardly Thatcher’s greatest supporters as a group, observing such a moment appeared remote, but Madejski argued in favour of respect.

Reflecting on the possibility of a silence being spoiled by dissenting factions, Madejski added: “Obviously I can appreciate that perhaps some people won’t pay attention to it, which is sometimes the way at football, but I just think she was such a colossus in terms of the world stage that she deserves that respect from the whole nation.

“No colossus like that strides the world’s stage without disenfranchising people at some stage or another, however the positive things that Margaret Thatcher achieved for our country speaks volumes and I think that outshines things that might not be considered so brilliant like the poll tax and so on.”