Blackburn Rovers have vowed to take additional measures to ensure safety of players, supporters and staff amid ongoing civil unrest.

Only minor disruption has been reported in Blackburn, with one arrest made last Saturday, but major upset nationally has put additional pressure on football clubs to keep fans safe this weekend.

Rovers' statement comes ahead of the club's opening game of the new EFL Championship season tonight, when they face Derby County at Ewood Park.

Several governing bodies across the Premier League and English Football League attended a meeting to discuss the potential for sporting events to be impacted by ongoing riots.

Senior executives were invited to an official level with representatives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the wake of widespread demonstrations, protests and violent disorder.

Community cohesion and calming the rising tensions were a central focus of the meeting.

A statement from the club said: “As clubs have been busily preparing for football’s return, we have unfortunately witnessed some unsavoury scenes in towns and cities up and down the country that nobody wants to see a repeat of.  

“Blackburn Rovers is proud to place itself at the heart of the local community and we aim to use our platform to support people from the town and surrounding areas, alongside providing a sense of identity, family and togetherness.  

“Ahead of our season opener against Derby County, our usual safety and stewarding operation will be in place, with increased searches outside the stadium for our first home fixture. Supporters are therefore encouraged to arrive early.

“The club will take any necessary additional measures to ensure the safety of all our players, supporters, staff and external agencies, as we do with every fixture at Ewood Park.

“This is of paramount importance to the club, along with the collective desire to create a warm, welcoming and enjoyable environment for all.

“We are therefore calling for unity and togetherness as we kick-off a season of celebration at Ewood Park to mark the 30th anniversary of our Premier League title triumph.”