Source: Daily_Mail
London riots 2011: Tottenham players want Everton game cancelled
Terrified Tottenham players have called for this weekend's opening day Premier League fixture to be called off amid fears over the London riots.[LNB]Spurs are set to host Everton at White Hart Lane on Saturday but the match is in doubt after trouble erupted in the surrounding area of the stadium last weekend following the shooting of local man Mark Duggan.[LNB]England's international with Holland was the first big sporting casualty after outbreaks of disorder swept the capital and forced tonight's friendly to be scrapped, while four Carling Cup games and Ghana v Nigeria were axed.[LNB]And Wednesday's schedule has also been affected with Bristol Rovers' home clash with Watford in the Carling Cup now postponed on police advice.[LNB] London's burning: Tottenham stars believe their game on Saturday should be called off due to recent unrest[LNB]HOW THE RIOTS HIT SPORTDOMESTIC FOOTBALL: The Premier League season is due to begin this weekend but matches at Tottenham, Fulham and QPR on Saturday have been put in doubt. With the trouble spreading to other cities, the Premier League and Football League meet tomorrow to discuss the situation after Carling Cup ties in the London area last night were postponed. Bristol Rovers v Watford on Wednesday is off.[LNB]INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL: England's friendly against Holland, due to be staged at Wembley tonight, has been cancelled. The friendly between Nigeria and Ghana at Watford's Vicarage Road stadium has also been called off.[LNB]CRICKET: The third Test between England and India at Edgbaston is to go ahead today despite rioting in Birmingham city centre. Two domestic fixtures at Lord's this week have had their start times moved to earlier in the day after Middlesex acted on advice from the police.OLYMPIC TEST EVENTS: The beach volleyball in Hyde Park passed off peacefully yesterday and is expected to continue in the same way, along with the badminton at Wembley Arena. Open water swimming in Hyde Park this weekend and road race cycling in the capital on Sunday are unlikely to be affected.[LNB]RUGBY UNION: Wales host England in the second World Cup warm-up Test in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium with both rugby authorities confident the unrest seen in England's capital will not cross the border into Wales.[LNB]RUGBY LEAGUE: So far only Salford has seen any trouble in the heartlands of rugby league and games on both sides of the Pennines are not thought to be in any danger because of public unrest. [LNB]The Premier League and Football League will make a final decision on Thursday whether some of this weekend's games will take place with Fulham v Aston Villa and QPR v Bolton also facing postponement.[LNB]But worried Spurs defender Younes Kaboul insists they should strongly consider rescheduling the club's meeting with Everton for the sake of the fans if the ongoing situation fails to improve.[LNB]'We don't know whether we will be able toplay this Saturday, as the riots are spreading across London. They looklike they're getting pretty serious,' the France international told The Sun.[LNB] 'If it is too dangerous, it would be preferable to postpone the match for the sake of the fans' safety.[LNB]'That is even though it is annoying for us players, especially as it is the first league game of the season. [LNB]'But you have to put people's safety above everything else.'[LNB]Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart admits he can't see Saturday's match going ahead after Holland's match with England was called off to offer police more support in the capital.[LNB]'I ask myself whether the league matches at the weekend will be able to go ahead. Right now, I can't imagine it,' he said.[LNB]'I saw the TV pictures from London and the chaos there at present is unbelievable. [LNB]'With things as they are, there is simply no way to organise a big international match safely. My wife Sylvie is over in England but I've not phoned her.[LNB]'Thankfully, everything is OK. It has remained calm where we live.'[LNB]Defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto has also cast doubt over playing this Saturday but hopes it will be played as planned otherwise the club will face a backlog of fixtures due to their involvement in the Europa League.[LNB] Fears: Younes Kaboul is on international duty in France but worried about his return to England[LNB]'Like in any riot, it's a minority who are messing things up. Most people are very well brought up and very respectful. I've never had any problems.[LNB]'It's the effect of the mob and not everyone is strong enough to stay outside of it all. They've smashed things up that people have worked hard to get.[LNB]'It's a shame, because it's not going to bring anyone back to life.[LNB]'I hope the match against Everton goes ahead. The season is busy enough as it is.[LNB] In doubt: Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart admits he cannot see this weekend's game taking place at White Hart Lane[LNB]'If we don't play the first match, it will mean playing two games in a week. We play enough of those in England. I hope sport will calm things down.'[LNB]Spurs chairman Daniel Levy lead the north London club's appeal for peace within the stricken local community and has pledged thousands of pounds to help rebuild the area.[LNB]He said: 'Our hope is that calm and order are restored as soon as possible and that we can now look to rebuild the area and the spirit of the community.' [LNB] Speaking out: Rio Ferdinand has appealed for calm after widespread disturbances in the city of Manchester[LNB]Scenes of chaos engulfed the areas across the country on Tuesday night including Manchester, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.[LNB]Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand reacted by appealing for calm on social networking site Twitter.[LNB]In a post to over one million ofhis followers, the England vice-captain wrote: 'Unrest now in Manchester....come on now....this isn't the way....stooooooooop it. What is this in aid of?? Innocent people are the victims.'[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMENo kicking off in the capital: Clubs set to cancel opening Premier League fixturesEngland v Holland scrapped... and now riots could put end to Premier League matchesEngland chaos: Riots put Wembley friendly in doubt as cricketers are locked in hotelAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion [LNB]
