Riots place doubt over opening Premier League weekend

The Premier League will decide on Thursday if this weekend's opening round of matches are to be postponed after another night of rioting.

Riots have taken place around the country since Saturday, stretching police resources.

A joint statement from the Premier League and Football League read: "We're in talks with our London clubs, the police and authorities.

"A further statement will be made after the situation is reviewed on Thursday."

There are three Premier League fixtures taking place in London on Saturday, all at 1500 BST: Tottenham v Everton, Fulham v Aston Villa and QPR v Bolton.

Tuesday's statement added that "there is no reason to think any matches outside of London will be affected", but it was released before trouble also flared up in the West Midlands and Manchester.

David Bond assesses the impact on the sporting schedule
West Bromwich host Manchester United on Sunday at 1600 BST before Manchester City play at home to Swansea on Monday at 2000 BST.

Several football fixtures have already been affected by the riots. England's international friendly against the Netherlands on Wednesday was called off, as was Ghana's friendly with Nigeria at Watford's Vicarage Road, which was due to take place on Tuesday.

Tuesday's Carling Cup matches at Charlton, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Bristol City were also postponed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14472012.stm

Fuck off! Rioters getting in the way of the footy is going too far.

Fucking cunts!

The FA will probably just reschedule the games for midweek next week. That's if England is still standing by then

Fucking shoot all the rioting cunts, and then we can get ready for the start of the premier league season.

I'll be royally pissed off if they have to postpone it.

If they do postpone our game it gives us a little longer to find a couple of defenders and hopefully have a few players recover from injury.

Steadman wrote:If they do postpone our game it gives us a little longer to find a couple of defenders and hopefully have a few players recover from injury.

They won't postpone the games that long

If football this weekend gets called off...

Fuck off rioters!

Scouser_Dave wrote:

Steadman wrote:If they do postpone our game it gives us a little longer to find a couple of defenders and hopefully have a few players recover from injury.

They won't postpone the games that long

We have a Champions League qualifier on Tuesday so it will give us another week.

Steadman wrote:

Scouser_Dave wrote:

Steadman wrote:If they do postpone our game it gives us a little longer to find a couple of defenders and hopefully have a few players recover from injury.

They won't postpone the games that long

We have a Champions League qualifier on Tuesday so it will give us another week.

Fair enough. Would mean that your open Prem fixture is against us

Scouser_Dave wrote:

Steadman wrote:

Scouser_Dave wrote:

Steadman wrote:If they do postpone our game it gives us a little longer to find a couple of defenders and hopefully have a few players recover from injury.

They won't postpone the games that long

We have a Champions League qualifier on Tuesday so it will give us another week.

Fair enough. Would mean that your open Prem fixture is against us

Again.

Should be a fun day for the people posting on here.

It seems that this is developing into a new craze and is spreading across the country. I was looking forward to seeing the Premier League start once again as well.

cheesy wrote:It seems that this is developing into a new craze and is spreading across the country. I was looking forward to seeing the Premier League start once again as well.

Riots are not a new thing.

Would much rather see a few football games postponed than see too few police on the streets leading to even more stupid destruction.

Find it funny people complaining that games are called off, there are much more important things happening than some shit sport being postponed for a week.

Get a grip.

James wrote:Find it funny people complaining that games are called off, there are much more important things happening than some shit sport being postponed for a week.

Get a grip.

Nothing else that's happened would affect me though. Pretty shit argument, it's like saying don't complain about something because there's something worse. There's always something worse. Don't complain bout greggs getting torched, there's people dying of poverty in Africa.

Zzonked wrote:

James wrote:Find it funny people complaining that games are called off, there are much more important things happening than some shit sport being postponed for a week.

Get a grip.

Nothing else that's happened would affect me though. Pretty shit argument, it's like saying don't complain about something because there's something worse. There's always something worse. Don't complain bout greggs getting torched, there's people dying of poverty in Africa.

Exactly, I knew somebody would say something like James did.

Much more important things? They're not rioting..it's mass burglary

I kind of sort of agree with James, I mean one weekend of postponed football is no big deal, despite it being the first weekend.... the season will still be played. The police force/areas around stadiums (metropolitan areas) have other things to worry about.

Cant we just send all the rioters to wales and keep them there?

No cause Wales arent rioting like monkeys

unfortunate but in all fairness id rather have the riots stop and postpone the matches slightly than have things carry on like this

dena wrote:No cause Wales arent rioting like monkeys

Woah. No need for the racism.

I dont see how Whales and Monkeys are involved Dena but i'll take your word

surely these Looting fools would like to watch the premier league on their new 3D TVs...

badham21 wrote:surely these Looting fools would like to watch the premier league on their new 3D TVs...

Exactly they would love to see Tottenham's new striker playing, Grabatele.

James wrote:Find it funny people complaining that games are called off, there are much more important things happening than some shit sport being postponed for a week.

Get a grip.

Just because Hull have lost their first two games.

Scott wrote:

James wrote:Find it funny people complaining that games are called off, there are much more important things happening than some shit sport being postponed for a week.

Get a grip.

Just because Hull have lost their first two games.

Hull 3 - 0 Liverpool