FA could slap fan ban on Hammers
WEST HAM face the threat of being forced to fight for survival behind closed doors at their London Stadium home after FOUR separate pitch invasions yesterday.
The FA have “strongly condemned” yesterday’s shocking scenes and are certain to launch proceedings when they get referee Lee Mason’s report into their 3-0 defeat by Burnley.
Nearly 1,000 fans also tried to storm the directors’ area to confront owners David Gold and David Sullivan and stewards were pushed over as they fought to keep control. Some fans even made a throat-slitting gesture while missiles were thrown in the direction of the executive seats.
West Ham thought they had headed off plans for a pre-game protest march after midweek meetings with supporters’ groups.
Fans are still angry at the move to the London Stadium away from their traditional Upton Park home, and also at the lack of transfer investment.
But the mood turned the moment Ashley Barnes fired Burnley in front after an hour of a game West Ham had dominated.
Down on the pitch, West Ham captain Mark Noble grappled one fan to the floor, defender James Collins frogmarched two away and Burnley forward Ashley Barnes tripped another over.
“I am a human being and if someone approaches me I will protect myself,” said Noble.
“It’s well known fans haven’t’ been happy for a long time and the only way to squash that is to win games. As soon as we conceded the atmosphere changed, the fans’ feelings took over.”
When West Ham went two goals down almost immediately two more supporters ran on and were ushered away by Noble and Collins.
Then another picked up the corner flag while the game was going on and planted it in the centre circle.
The Burnley coaching staff even had to let children sit on their substitutes’ bench to avoid being caught in skirmishes in the stands.
Meanwhile, hundreds of fans stormed towards the concourse below the directors area chanting: “Where’s the money gone?” and “You’ve ruined our club” at owners Gold and Sullivan.
The pair ended up having to be ushered out of the stadium with six minutes of the game left for their own safety.
Hammers boss David Moyes admitted he feared Noble might have been sent off for the way he confronted the fan, but praised ref Mason.
“He stayed very calm and made it clear that he would get the game finished,” said Moyes.
A statement from the FA said it “strongly condemns” the crowd disturbances and will be seeking observations from the home team.
A Met Police spokesman confirmed that they have received two allegations of assault which are being investigated but no arrests have yet been made. And the Premier League said in a statement: “It is essential that everybody who plays or attends a Premier League match can do so safely. There is no place at any level of the game for what happened at the London Stadium yesterday.’’