The friendly between England and Netherlands national teams is cancelled due to riots erupted in London as footballers appeal for end of violence. Three leauge cup matches also called off.

Violence has spread to many parts of London after a riot broke out in Tottenham on Saturday and the football friendly where England host the Netherlands was called off on Tuesday amid the violent wave of rioting and looting across the city of London.

After the violence first broke out late Saturday afternoon in the low-income north London district of Tottenham, where outraged protesters demonstrated against the fatal police shooting of the 29-year-old Mark Duggan,father of four, who was shut down on Thursday last week.

England vs Holland Friendly Cancelled, Riots in London expand

“It is with regret that tomorrow’s international fixture with Holland at Wembley has been called off,” the British Football Association informed in a brief statement.

The decision was announced before the Dutch team travelled to London for Wednesday’s friendly. Dutch football association spokeswoman Monique Kessel stated that Holland national team would remain in the Netherlands and not travel to London. She also expresssed sadness and grief and called the situation as a shame.

Holland : London Riots are a shame for England

About 70,000 tickets have already been sold for the match, planned to be played at Wembley.

“The disturbances in London are such that all available London police department capacity is being reserved for the control of the riots,” the Dutch football association informed in a statement.

“Given that a large public event such as an big named international match at Wembley requires police security, it has been decided not to let it be played.”

Battling Britain, London still burning

The move came as British authorities struggled to contain the spiraling unrest.

In London, groups of young people rampaged for a third straight night, setting buildings, vehicles and garbage dumps alight, looting stores and rainin police officers down with bottles and fireworks.

England forward Wayne Rooney appealed for an end to the violence. He said “These riots are nuts why would people do this to their own country. Own city,” Rooney wrote on Twitter. “This is embarrassing for our country. Stop please.”

England defender Rio Ferdinand described the increasing violence as “madness”‘ and questioned whether soldiers should be put on the streets of the British capital. Ferdinand is actually one of many suggesting the army should get involved in London riots.

Three League Cup matches in London have been called off as London riots expand in England

Three League Cup matches scheduled for Tuesday across London have already been called off.

West Ham, which was due to host Aldershot, informed police told the east London club that “all major public events in London were to be rearranged.”

In south London, Charlton’s league cup match against Reading and Crystal Palace’s fixture against Crawley were also postponed.

As the violence spread to other cities in the UK, England batsman Kevin Pietersen stated on Monday night that doors had been locked at the team hotel in Birmingham.

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