England's friendly international against the Netherlands, scheduled to be played at Wembley on Wednesday, was cancelled by the Football Association because of fears over security, DPA reported.
Several Carling Cup matches had already postponed by police advice in connection with the London riots, which spread across the past three nights.
With 70,000 fans expected at Wembley and police resources already at breaking point after rioting all over London, the decision to cancel the game on Tuesday had seemed almost inevitable.
"It is with regret that tomorrow's international fixture with Holland at Wembley has been called off," the FA said in a brief statement.
The Dutch federation said that police could not guarantee safety while England were due to hold a press conference later on Tuesday.
Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe had already voiced concerns around the London 2012 Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday it had full faith in the authorities.
West Ham and Charlton Athletics said late Monday on their club websites they were told to postpone first-round Carling Cup games against Aldershot Town and Reading, respectively, which were scheduled for Tuesday night.
The Chrystal Palace game with Crawley was called off Tuesday, but in cricket England's third test against India was to go ahead as planned near Birmingham although the rioting also reached that city on Monday.
West Ham said they "were contacted this evening (Monday) and told that all major public events in London were to be rearranged because of the need to focus police resources elsewhere."
Charlton chief executive Stephen Kavanagh said in a statement: "The police have told us they believe the match should be postponed on safety grounds, and obviously we have taken that advice."
The riots were probably also on the Olympic agenda with International Olympic Committee top officials and the chefs de mission from 200 countries in town for seminars and briefings.
A pre-Olympic beach volleyball test events started on schedule Tuesday and Horse Guard's Parade.
The unrest started two weeks after London celebrated a one-year-to-go party to mark the final countdown to the July 27-August 12, 2012, Games.
"In less than 1 year we welcome the world to London, and right now the world doesn't want to come," Radcliffe tweetede. "The country at it's very worst."
The 2004 Olympios and 2007 world championships bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton even tweeted: "Bring in the army. How the hell can the police deal with this!?"
But the IOC, London organizers and the British Olympic Committee (BOA) expressed their faith that the Games will be safe.
"Security is the top priority for the IOC but is it not our direct responsibility - that is something for the authorities in London in whom we have complete confidence," IOC spokesman Mark Adams told the German Press Agency dpa.
LOCOG spokeswoman Joanna Manning-Cooper told dpa: "A lot of detailed work has taken place regarding security plans for the Games and we will continue to review them together with the Met Police and the Home Office over the coming year."
BOA spokesman Darryll Seibel told Sky Sports: "This is unfortunate, it is unpleasant and not what anyone would say is acceptable, but to suggest it would in any way impact on the overall approach to the Games - we are nowhere near that discussion now."
The violent demonstrations and looting started Saturday in Tottenham in north London following the death of criminal suspect Mark Duggan during a police sting operation. They spread on Monday to Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol and other cities.
In view of the escalating crisis, Prime Minister David Cameron cut short his summer holiday in Italy and was chairing a meeting of the government's security emergency committee Tuesday.
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