On the 06 August 2011 (Saturday), masked youths went on a rampage in the north London suburb of Tottenham, ransacking shops and setting cars, buses and properties alight following a peaceful protest after a man had been fatally shot by police two days earlier.
On 09 August 2011 (tuesday), in Soho square, London, the FA cancelled the three-lions international friendly scheduled against Holland at the Wembly stadium.
This decision became fruitful after consultation with the London metropolitan police because they were struggling to contain the riots and looting in the capital's streets.
The official statement said that supporters would have to travel through London at a time when violence had erupted over the past three days.
"This is something we are keen to avoid," the statement said. "We do not need the additional burden of a crowd of 80 000 people on our streets tomorrow night.
"Every officer on duty must be deployed to protect life, our communities and properties."
The 08 August 2011 (yesterday), international friendly between Nigeria and Ghana at Vicarage Road in Watford, north of London, was also suspended as a result of the mayhem in the capital city.
The violence spread to other parts of London and to the midlands city of Birmingham, as well as Liverpool in the north and Bristol in the south-west.
Football Association (FA) chairman David Bernstein said tickets for the Wembley match would be refunded in full, adding that the FA hoped to stage the match next year.
"We have received clear advice that due to the sporadic and widespread nature of the unrest there are significant concerns in relation to the available emergency service resource to safely police the fixture," Bernstein told a news conference.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said he was disappointed, but not surprised by the decision.
"If you saw the pictures on TV you know it could go wrong," he told reporters.
In conclusion, this is exactly why I don't support 'peaceful' protests. I don't believe in any protest of any kind. If you want to fight against a cause, then by all means do so, by, having an open and honest discussion (meeting).
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