THE INTERNATIONALLY embarrassing prospect of wholesale Premier League postponements this weekend has been averted with all matches, except Tottenham Hotspur against Everton tomorrow, set to take place as planned.
With the area around White Hart Lane not merely still a crime scene but containing several unsafe buildings badly damaged by the recent civil disorder, the authorities had little choice but to call off the game. Street violence flared in the locality last Saturday, before spreading to other parts of London and assorted English cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool during the early part of this week.
Several League Cup ties were called off along with England’s midweek friendly against Holland.
The second week of the Football League season should also proceed normally, although Cheltenham’s League Two match against Swindon has been postponed due to a lack of local police resources.
Meanwhile, Jose Enrique is close to becoming Liverpool’s fifth summer signing after Newcastle United accepted a €6.8M offer for their disillusioned Spaniard. The former Villarreal defender, who cost Newcastle €7.2m in 2007, underwent a medical yesterday and could complete the deal ahead of the Premier League opener against Sunderland at Anfield.
Fernando Torres has mild concussion and is a doubt for Chelsea’s game at Stoke City. Andre Villas-Boas, the manager, is expected to offer a further assessment of his condition today.
Birmingham City principal owner, Carson Yeung, cannot fly back to Britain for the Championship club’s first home game of the season, a Hong Kong court has ruled. The tycoon is on bail facing money laundering charges.
Guardianservice
