West Ham co-owner Sullivan was hit by coin during protest
West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan was hit by a coin amid ugly protests as angry fans ran riot during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Burnley at the London Stadium.
Sullivan and fellow co-owner David Gold were forced to flee their seats in the directors’ box as fans crowded around them with thrown missiles mixed with chants of “sack the board” and “you killed our club”.
Former West Ham striker and manager Trevor Brooking cut a lonely figure as he sat in the directors’ box alone for the final stages of the match that saw West Ham slip to 16th in the Premier League, just three points above the relegation zone.
Brooking confirmed Sullivan had been struck by a coin.
“I think a coin did hit David Sullivan, his glasses,” Brooking told the BBC yesterday.
“I didn’t see it myself but I did have that confirmed, which was part of the reason why the people in the directors’ box had to go inside to save any more problems like that.”
West Ham said an emergency meeting had been called with all West Ham stakeholders, which includes Gold and Sullivan, whose decision to uproot the club from Upton Park to the site that hosted London’s 2012 Olympic Games has caused resentment.
Saturday’s events are being investigated by the Football Association and the Premier League as several West Ham supporters also invaded the pitch.
West Ham captain Mark Noble grappled one fan to the floor and teammate James Collins marched two others away, while Burnley players and staff allowed frightened young supporters take shelter on their bench.
Brooking said stewards were not equipped to deal with the situation.
“The actual level of aggression was something I couldn’t believe West Ham fans would get involved with,” he said.
“A lot of the stewards who are on duty on matchdays are not West Ham people. They’re actually stadium people, and sometimes until they get a job there haven’t had any experience dealing with football crowds. They were quite young and couldn’t deal with the aggression they were faced with.”
Stewarding issues have been a frequent problem for West Ham since their move into the London Stadium and the latest incidents have raised fears that the club could be punished by having to play a future game behind closed doors.
West Ham players – who were due to set to jet off to Florida yesterday for a five-day, warm weather training break – were not immediately available to comment on the crisis, but Brooking issued a plea to fans to get behind the team.
“The next five home games look pretty bleak because there is no way the team will be able to play and get the points to stay up under that sort of atmosphere,” Brooking said.
“It’s impossible. That atmosphere must never be allowed to come back otherwise the club is in serious trouble.
“The fans have to understand that and really shelve those frustrations ... and allow the players to get the points to stay up.”