Tottenham’s first game postponed after riots

Police felt the game could not go ahead after the public disorder that occured over the weekend [GALLO/GETTY]

Tottenham’s opening match of the Premier League season against Everton on Saturday has been postponed following disorder in the London neighbourhood that sparked trouble across England.

There are ongoing safety concerns in the area around the north London club’s White Hart Lane stadium, which has seen police resources stretched.

“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,” Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said on Thursday.

Tottenham said the decision was taken because of “safety concerns relating to the infrastructure of the High Road and access to the stadium caused by last Saturday’s riots.”

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to supporters due to matters outside of the control of the club,” Spurs said.

The violence first broke out late Saturday in the low-income district of Tottenham in north London after a protest against the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father of four who was gunned down in disputed circumstances Thursday.

Tottenham’s football club saw damage to a ticket office at White Hart Lane.

The violence morphed into general lawlessness in London and several other cities over the following three nights, with police struggling to regain control.

Tottenham captain Michael Dawson expressed his disappointment at his delayed start to the season, having already seen England’s friendly against the Netherlands on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium called off.

“We’ve worked for six weeks trying to get fit and now the first week’s not going to be happening for us,” the defender said.

“But safety is the main thing, and the police wouldn’t have called it off lightly.”

This weekend’s remaining nine Premier League fixtures will go ahead as planned, the league also said in a statement later on Thursday.

“The Tottenham game is a real shame but we support the police in what they are doing,” said Scudamore.