England v Holland friendly off


The FA have confirmed that England's friendly against Holland at Wembley has been called off following a third night of violence in London. The news seemed inevitable with disturbances taking place in places far removed from the area of Tottenham - where the original disquiet arose on Saturday evening.

With the Metropolitan Police unaware of how much further the violence would spread, there was little alternative other than to scrap the contest, for which around 70,000 tickets had been sold.

A brief statement from the FA read: "It is with regret that tomorrow's international fixture with Holland at Wembley has been called off.'' Peckham-raised England defender Rio Ferdinand has expressed shock at the rioting. Ferdinand, 32, was last night watching television pictures of the violent scenes which saw vehicles and property go up in flames and shops looted, and suggested the Army should be brought in to quell the disorder.

He wrote in three consecutive messages on Twitter: "The scenes on Sky news right now are shocking..what is this all in aid of?? Innocent peoples [sic] homes + livelihoods have gone up in smoke-why? It seems these kids/people have no fear or respect for the police....maybe the army will get that respect?? And I am not saying bring violence, I am saying the presence of the army may make these kids/people think twice about continuing this??

Ferdinand's England and Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney pleaded for the trouble to stop. Rooney wrote on Twitter: "These riots are nuts why would people do this to there [sic] own country. Own city. This is embarrassing for our country. Stop please."