The EFL reportedly have no plans to postpone any of this weekend’s matches despite widespread rioting in several major cities across the United Kingdom. Far-right violence has shaken the country following the deaths of three young girls in a knife attack in Southport last week.
Areas such as Rotherham, Plymouth, Nottingham, Belfast and Birmingham have experienced large-scale disorder amid clashes between far-right groups and anti-fascist counterprotesters. It has been speculated on social media that football matches in affected areas could be postponed, with the EFL season due to begin on Friday.
However, they have no intention of postponing any of their scheduled matches across the Championship, League One and League Two, according to experienced football executive Peter Varney. The action is due to get underway on Friday evening when Preston North End host Sheffield United at Deepdale.
Other EFL fixtures across all three divisions will take place throughout the weekend ahead of the Premier League campaign starting next Friday.
Police have made over 400 arrests since far-right groups took to the streets following the killing of three young girls in Southport. Hundreds of police officers have been left injured with more potentially violent demonstrations expected to take place over the coming days.
Sir Keir Starmer has promised that communities will be kept safe in spite of the disorder, with the prime minister having chaired two meetings of the government’s emergency Cobra committee in response to the growing unrest.
On Tuesday, he said: “They will be safe. We’re doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed, it’s in place, where support is needed for particular places, that it is in place.
“Obviously, it’s a difficult situation with disorder going on in a number of different places at the same time. But that is precisely why I held my second Cobra meeting today to coordinate the response and to get the assurance that I want and need that we do have adequate police in place, that we are able to cope with this disorder.
“Those involved will feel the full force of the law. Over 400 people now have been arrested, 100 have been charged, some in relation to online activity, and a number of them are already in court. I’m now expecting substantive sentencing before the end of this week.
“That should send a very powerful message to anybody involved, either directly or online, that you are likely to be dealt with within a week. Nobody, but nobody, should be involved themselves in this disorder.”
