Riots threaten Premier League opening weekend

Continuing unrest around the country has cast doubt on the Premier League opening weekend.

The violence, particularly in London, has caused both Carling Cup ties and England’s friendly against the Netherlands to be called off.

The Premier League and Football League have announced that they will make a statement on Thursday on the fate of fixtures in London and other major cities.

“The Premier League and Football League are saddened by the recent incidents of civil unrest and the effect it is having on local communities,” read a joint statement.

“We are in on-going discussions with our London-based clubs, the relevant police forces and statutory authorities, in regard to the staging of the coming weekend’s fixtures in the capital.

“The Metropolitan Police has conveyed to us the dynamic nature of the current situation and with that in mind all parties will review the situation on Thursday and make a further public statement.”

It is understood that Fulham's game against Aston Villa, QPR’s clash with Bolton and Tottenham’s match against Everton are all in doubt.