English Premier League chiefs will decide today whether the opening round of fixtures will go ahead as British cities grapple with widespread rioting, a statement said.

Although relative calm returned to London’s streets on Tuesday night, outbreaks of violence in Birmingham and Manchester have raised question marks against this weekend’s Premier League kick-off.

Both the Premier League and Football League are to meet today to decide whether games in London will go ahead.

“The Premier League and Football League are saddened by the recent incidents of civil unrest and the effect it is having on local communities,” a joint statement said.

“We are in ongoing discussions with our London-based clubs, the Metropolitan Police and statutory authorities in regard to the staging of the coming weekend’s fixtures in the capital.

“The Metropolitan Police has conveyed to us the dynamic nature of the current situation and with that in mind all parties will review the situation on Thursday (today).

“With the information currently available to us there is no reason to think any matches outside of London will be affected.”

England’s friendly against Holland, due to have taken place at Wembley yesterday, was scrapped along with an international between Ghana and Nigeria at Watford on Tuesday.

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