Riots prompt Tottenham postponement 

Recent rioting in London has forced Tottenham's opening English Premier League match with Everton to be postponed but the rest of the opening day fixtures are due to go ahead as planned.

The match was due to take place in the north London suburb that saw the first outbreak of violence last Saturday and a large area near to the ground is still sealed off as a crime scene.

Riots then spread to other parts of the capital as shops were looted and set on fire, stretching police resources to the limit.

The Premier League said they had taken advice from the Metropolitan police and the local authority and decided to postpone the match, which will be rescheduled at a later date.

But the other nine games on the opening weekend of the English league season -- including three other fixtures in London -- are unaffected.

"The very latest situation is that Tottenham and Everton has gone," the Premier League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said in a statement.

"The police have done a fantastic job but it's been a crime scene all week and the council have not had enough time to do what they need.

"The Tottenham game is a real shame but we support the police in what they are doing. They want these games to go on as much as we do.

"We want to get the game played at the earliest opportunity so the league can stay as intact as it can.

"It's a football competition at the end of the day, it's a fantastic football competition, but it pales into insignificance against the things people have had to face in their jobs and in their daily life."

Tottenham confirmed in a statement the game was off and said they would announce a new date for the match as soon as possible.

It read: "It has now been confirmed that this fixture will be postponed due to safety concerns relating to infrastructure of the High Road and access to the stadium caused by last Saturday's riots."

The rioting which began in London spread to other English cities at the start of the week with Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Liverpool affected.

The trouble in London forced the postponement of England's international friendly with the Netherlands that was due to be played at Wembley on Wednesday night.

Prime Minister David Cameron suggested that the remaining nine Premier League games could kick-off earlier to assist police.
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