FA launches inquiry into violence at West Ham
Print Edition
ENGLAND’S Football Association has announced an inquiry into the violence that marred Wednesday night’s League Cup tie between West Ham United and Chelsea at London Stadium.
In scenes that were a throwback to the hooliganism that blighted English football at the end of the last century, bottles and coins were thrown, seats ripped up and stewards struggled to control rival fans seeking to confront each other.
There was also violence outside the stadium, the centerpiece of the 2012 Olympics, where riot police intervened as supporters clashed on their way back to the London Underground.
Yesterday the FA confirmed that it had launched an investigation and will assess the evidence after talking to both clubs.
A statement from EFL, the competition’s organizer, said: “The EFL condemns the behavior of the small minority of fans involved in the disturbing and unwelcome incidents.”
Police said seven arrests were made. Both West Ham and Chelsea said they’d issue life bans to any identified trouble-makers.
The main trouble flared towards the end of the game, which West Ham won 2-1, as stewards struggled to contain rival fans gathered in the gangways. A series of scuffles broke out and more missiles were hurled.
The violence was centered in the lower tier of the Sir Trevor Brooking stand, where rival fans were separated by gangways, manned by stewards.
The clashes sparked a debate about whether the stadium, which was converted to a football ground after the Olympics, is fit for purpose.
Wednesday’s game had been identified as a potential flashpoint and the first big night test for West Ham, which moved from its traditional home at the Boleyn Ground into its new stadium at the start of the season.
Outbreaks of trouble have already been recorded at West Ham’s Premier League games against Watford, Sunderland and Middlesbrough this season, and fears had been raised of a repeat with 5,000 Chelsea supporters travelling to the game between traditional rivals from east and west London.
Special security measures had been put in place, including an alcohol ban and a reduction in the number of tickets on sale. More than 1,000 stewards were deployed in and around the ground, which also had “a robust presence” of police officers.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic condemned the violence, which overshadowed a fine performance by his side.
“We are totally against it as a club,” said the former Croatia defender, whose team will visit Manchester United in the quarterfinals. “For those kind of things to happen, especially in England, is unacceptable.”
Jose Mourinho’s United edged Pep Guardiola’s City 1-0 in a Manchester derby, with Juan Mata scoring at Old Trafford.
Six weeks after City’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford in the Premier League, United got a measure of revenge as Mourinho’s decision to play a virtually full-strength team paid off.
Mata sidefooted home a low shot from 10 meters in the 54th minute following a lay-off by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, ensuring City is now winless in six games under Guardiola — the worst run of the Spaniard’s distinguished coaching career.
Other last-8 clashes are: Liverpool vs Leeds; Hull vs Newcastle; and Arsenal vs Southampton.
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