EPL CEO Richard Scudamore said that Tottenham Hotspur's season-opening match against Everton Saturday at White Hart Lane "has been postponed because of the London riots," according to Geoffrey Riddle of the LONDON TIMES. The borough near Tottenham's stadium has "bore the brunt of the rioting," and the public disturbances "continued there until Tuesday morning." As a result of the destruction, there was "not enough time to clear and secure the main road or obtain a safety certificate for Saturday's match." With the rioting "spreading to cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, the police will continue to monitor the situation, especially Birmingham’s fixture at home to Coventry City on Saturday." The Metropolitan Police are "due to make a decision about the nine other" EPL matches later today (THETIMES.co.uk, 8/11). Scudamore "was 'positive' that the other nine fixtures in the opening round of top-flight games would go ahead." He said, "The very latest situation is that Tottenham and Everton has gone. 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 other nine fixtures are looking positive, subject to any more trouble" (DAILYMAIL.co.uk, 8/11). EPL club Queens Park Rangers co-Owner Bernie Ecclestone before the announcement regarding the Tottenham-Everton game said that postponements "would send a 'terrible message' to the rest of the world" (London TELEGRAPH, 8/11).
