Government urges sporting bodies to help calm tensions

Sports governing bodies have met with 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 that 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 Premier League and the EFL have yet to comment.

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.

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

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

It has been reported, external that 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."