Government urges sporting bodies to help calm tensions

Sports governing bodies have met UK government officials to discuss how they can help calm rising tensions during the worst riots in a decade.

Violence in towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland since 30 July has been fuelled by misinformation online, the far-right and anti-immigration sentiment.

More than 400 people have been arrested and 140 charged, while largely peaceful counter protests against anti-immigration have also taken place.

BBC Sport understands the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) held a video call on Wednesday with representatives of several organisations to discuss how sport will be impacted.

The Premier League, English Football League (EFL), Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Rugby Football League (RFL) were among those who attended.

The English domestic football season starts on Friday.

Lisa Nandy – Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – wants sporting bodies and clubs to promote cohesion and tolerance.

Government officials are keen for fixtures to take place as normal despite the extra strain on police resources as a result of the riots.

The RFU criticised “all acts of racism and violence” and said rugby was “about uniting communities”.

“For our clubs, we encourage you to put your arms around your respective communities and keep yourselves and your neighbours safe,” it said.

The RFL said “inclusion is in rugby league’s DNA” and asked supporters to “respect each other, to celebrate the diversity of our communities” and to “show the world the best of rugby league”.

The Football Association, Premier League and the EFL have yet to comment.

Convicted rioters could be banned from attending football matches as part of existing powers under the Football Offences Act.

It has been reported police investigations have shown links between far-right activists and organised football hooligan groups who have co-ordinated some of the violence.

Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said “all options are being looked at”.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I am pretty confident football clubs, rugby clubs, and other big sporting institutions do not want to have people who have caused such violence and disorder in their communities on their stands at the weekend.

“I’m sure the secretary of state for culture, media and sport will be talking to those bodies about this.”

Four matches in the EFL, including Championship games involving Preston and Blackburn – where there have been riots in recent days, will take place on Friday.

Preston, who host Derby County at Deepdale, said they “fully expect Friday’s match to go ahead”.

“The football club has met with the SAG (Safety Advisory Group) and we do not anticipate there being any situation in where Friday’s match would be postponed,” a spokesperson told BBC Sport.

Newcastle United said “mitigation measures are in place” for friendlies at St James’ Park involving their men’s and women’s sides on Saturday, with protests planned in the city on the same day.

“I hope there is no confrontation or aggressive scenes. We want to see the place respected in the way it should be,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said at a news conference.

Middlesbrough, who host Swansea in the Championship on Saturday, backed the “strongest possible action” being taken against “scurrilous individuals” who caused disorder in the town.

“We support the continued efforts of our police and prosecutors to hold them to account,” they said.

Blackburn Rovers said there will be increased searches outside Ewood Park before their Championship season opener against Derby County on Friday night.

League One club Reading said there would be a “significant police presence” at their away match at Birmingham on Saturday evening and “are confident that the match will pass without incident”.

Premier League champions Manchester City face FA Cup winners Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley on Saturday.