• Premier League

Spurs stars split on potential match postponements

ESPN staff
August 10, 2011
The opening round of Premier League fixtures could go the way of England's postponed international friendly with Netherlands © Getty Images
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Tottenham players would back a decision by the Premier League to postpone this weekend's opening round of fixtures, in light of the recent London riots.

The Tottenham area was one of the first to be hit by trouble, as local residents began to protest after the death of Mark Duggan last week. Instances have since escalated across the capital, although police had seemingly begun to get things under control by Tuesday evening.

However, with Spurs set to welcome Everton to White Hart Lane on Saturday, a number of players have nevertheless suggested that perhaps it would be best to suspend games until civil order has been fully restored.

"If it is too dangerous, it would be preferable to postpone the match for the sake of the fans' safety," defender Younes Kaboul told The Sun. "That is even though it is annoying for us players, especially as it is the first league game of the season. But you have to put people's safety above everything else."

Rafael van der Vaart echoed his team-mate's sentiment, approving of the Football Association's decision to postpone England's scheduled friendly with the Netherlands - which was due to take place on Wednesday.

"I ask myself whether the league matches at the weekend will be able to go ahead. Right now, I can't imagine it," Van der Vaart said. "I saw the TV pictures from London and the chaos there at present is unbelievable. With things as they are, there is simply no way to organise a big international match safely.

"My wife Sylvie is over in England but I've not phoned her. Thankfully, everything is okay. It has remained calm where we live."

However, Benoit Assou-Ekotto had a different view - believing sport can help to calm things down and enable life to get back to normal much quicker. Also, the Cameroon international does not want a fixture backlog to start the new season.

"Like in any riot, it's a minority who are messing things up," Assou-Ekotto said. "Most people are very well brought up and very respectful. I've never had any problems.

"It's the effect of the mob and not everyone is strong enough to stay outside of it all. They've smashed things up that people have worked hard to get. It's a shame, because it's not going to bring anyone back to life.

"I hope the match against Everton goes ahead. The season is busy enough as it is.

"If we don't play the first match, it will mean playing two games in a week. We play enough of those in England. I hope sport will calm things down."

Two other Premier League games are set to take place in London at the weekend - as Fulham play Aston Villa and newly-promoted QPR host Bolton.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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