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The riots have claimed their first Premier League victim after Tottenham's match with Everton was scrapped.
After England's friendly with Holland on Wednesday was postponed - along with a string of Carling Cup games - the first top-flight match has now been called off.
And speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron revealed that the kick-off times for the remaining Premier League matches could now be brought forward to avoid further trouble.
Nightmare: Fires raged in Tottenham on Saturday night;
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore confirmed the game at White Hart Lane would not be played but 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.
'At 6pm tonight we will have a very clear picture. The Tottenham game is a real shame but we support the police in what they are doing.
'They want these games to go on as much as we do.'
Civil unrest in and around Tottenham began last weekend and quickly spread to other areas of the capital and other major cities across England.
The violence first broke out on Saturday after a protest against the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father-of-four who was gunned down a week ago.
Waiting game: Tottenham's players will sit it out on Saturday;
There was reported damage to a ticket office at White Hart Lane.
A Tottenham statement read: 'Following ongoing discussions with the necessary authorities regarding this weekend's Premier League home match against Everton, it has now been confirmed that this fixture will be postponed due to 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. We shall update fans on when this fixture will be rearranged in due course.'
Spurs captain Michael Dawson admitted his disappointment at his delayed start to the season, but understood the reasons for the postponement.
He said: 'We've worked for six weeks trying to get fit and now the first week's not going to be happening for us. But safety is the main thing, and the police wouldn't have called it off lightly.'
Chelsea counterpart John Terry, who was due to captain England in Wednesday's friendly against Holland until it too was called off, shared Dawson's sentiments.
Empty: White Hart Lane will no longer host football on Saturday; MH, ALAFU IWEJE ??
Worry: Steve Bruce;
He said: 'It was unfortunate for us, a lot of kids would have been at the game, but like Michael says, the safety is the most important thing.'
On Twitter, Everton captain Phil Neville wrote: 'I'm in depression now - trained for 6 weeks for saturday's game I know its 100% the right decision but I'm going to sulk all day!!!'
The only other weekend fixture so far to fall foul of the demands being placed on police resources by the unrest is the Blue Square Bet Premier match between Telford and Luton. West Mercia Police requested that the match be postponed.
Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is hoping rioters will not ruin the rest of the start of the Premier League season.
The Black Cats are due to launch their campaign at Liverpool, one of the cities affected by trouble earlier this week, on Saturday.
Bruce said: 'I think I stand for the whole of the country. We are outraged and shocked by what we have seen.
'I hope the Premier League can get started. In my opinion, it would be wrong to let these idiots and thugs who are doing what they are doing disrupt everything.
'We will be guided by the authorities, but I echo what most people think and what most people are saying. I am saddened and shocked that our country could come to something like that.'
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