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LONDON — England striker Wayne Rooney has appealed for an end to the violence and looting in London that has put Wednesday's exhibition match against the Netherlands in doubt.
After a third night of unrest in London, talks will be held Tuesday to see whether Scotland Yard can cope with policing the match at Wembley Stadium while trying to maintain order elsewhere.
"These riots are nuts why would people do this to there (sic) own country. Own city," Rooney wrote on Twitter. "This is embarrassing for our country. Stop please."
Police struggled to keep pace with the chaos unfolding at flashpoints across London into early Tuesday, with rioters left virtually unchallenged in several neighborhoods to set buildings, vehicles and garbage dumps alight, loot stores and pelt police officers with bottles and fireworks.
England defender Rio Ferdinand described the escalating violence as "madness" and questioned whether soldiers should be put on the streets of the British capital.
"It seems these kids/people have no fear or respect for the police....maybe the army will get that respect??" Ferdinand tweeted. "The presence of the army may make these kids/people think twice about continuing this??"
Three League Cup matches scheduled for Tuesday across London have already been called off due to police resources being stretched coping with the disorder.
West Ham, which was due to host Aldershot, said police told the east London club that "all major public events in London were to be rearranged."
In south London, Charlton's match against Reading and Crystal Palace's fixture against Crawley are also postponed.
Dozens of people also attacked shops in the main retail district of Birmingham, where England is to due to play India in the third cricket test on Wednesday.
England batsman Kevin Pietersen said on Monday night that doors had been locked at the team hotel in the central city.
Violence first broke out late Saturday in the low-income district of Tottenham in north London, where outraged protesters demonstrated against the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father of four who was gunned down in disputed circumstances Thursday.
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Follow Rob Harris at http://www.twitter.com/RobHarrisUK
