West Ham to ban 200
West Ham move to protect reputation by issuing bans
WEST HAM are preparing to ban at least 200 supporters from the London Stadium immediately in a bid to restore their damaged reputation. The club’s owners yesterday ordered staff to sift through every piece of available video evidence to identify culprits after violence marred Wednesday’s EFL Cup match with London rivals Chelsea. Police made six arrests after skirmishes broke out.
TWO hundred fans are set to be banned from the London Stadium as West Ham try to restore their damaged reputation following Wednesday night’s shameful scenes.
And they will not balk at banning hundreds more after club owners yesterday ordered staff to sift through every piece of available video evidence to identify those responsible for the violence which marred the EFL Cup match with Chelsea.
Once the process is completed, images will be posted on the club website, with law-abiding fans asked for help in providing the names of those behind the worst behaviour. If further investigation confirms that information is correct, West Ham will issue life bans to those involved.
Police have already charged three of six men arrested on Wednesday. The charges include common assault, assault on a police officer, possession of Class A drugs and throwing missiles.
The length the club is prepared to go to, however, in taking the firmest possible action can be seen in the numbers involved.
West Ham have already banned 23 supporters from the stadium following previous trouble and a club source said: ‘If it means banning hundreds or even a thousand people, we will. We can’t allow this to continue — this is not who we are, and it can’t become who we are.’
Scuffles had broken out between supporters outside the turnstiles and, as tension intensified during the match, the two sets of fans came frighteningly close to trading blows as they attempted to breach segregation lines.
Seats were torn up and missiles, including bottles and coins, hurled between fans. Only the attempts of riot police and stewards kept the two sets of supporters apart.
West Ham are concerned the reputational damage could be irreparable if there is a repeat of Wednesday’s scenes. There are fears the image of the club has suffered since moving stadiums, and could deter fans, sponsors or investors from getting involved.
‘People can’t think there is a riot at West Ham every game — but that is how it must look to outsiders right now,’ the source added. ‘We have to change this perception, and get this minority element out of our club.’
One of the issues in identifying troublemakers is that fans often leave their seats to join the affray, making it difficult to pick them out by ticket numbers. This is why the video footage of the fighting is considered so important, although West Ham insist it will not need a punch or even a physically violent act for a person to be thrown out.
Chucking missiles, abuse of stewards, extremes of aggressive behaviour and attempts to access the away enclosure could all be enough to earn a ban.
On a day of recriminations, the FA announced an official investigation. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch urged West Ham not to ‘return to the dark days of the late 1970s’, while Conservative MP Mark Field called for their games to be played behind closed doors.
Chelsea, for their part, will aid the police with all inquiries and back criminal convictions for their own supporters if they are found guilty of misconduct.
Meanwhile, Sportsmail understands the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) are becoming ever more concerned about the situation.
They give out the safety licence that allows stadiums to function as all-seater sport arenas and, in the worst-case scenario, reserve the right to revoke it.
Their arbitrary powers have never previously been used but could come into play if the respective stakeholders — the E20 partnership (stadium landlords), London Stadium 185 (stadium security operator), the police and West Ham — do not improve matters.
An SGSA spokesperson told Sportsmail: ‘The Sports Ground Safety Authority will continue to monitor the situation and ensure all parties involved continue to work together to ensure the safety of spectators remains a priority.’
Field, vice-chairman of the all-party parliamentary football group and Cities of London and Westminster Conservative MP, said West Ham must take urgent steps to correct the problems.
‘Within the next 14 days, the board of West Ham United FC should present a detailed plan to the FA and Premier League outlining what they are going to do about security,’ he said.
‘None of these problems were unforeseeable given the nature of the stadium and difficulties with policing large footballing crowds.
‘There have been some clear failings and they now need to move with urgency to deliver a plan about segregation and broader public order issues.
‘If there is a repeat of the violence, the next two or three home games for West Ham should be played behind closed doors.’
Sports Minister Crouch said: ‘No one wants to see a return to the dark days of the late 1970s and 80s. It is completely right that strong action is taken and that anyone involved in last night’s trouble is banned for life.’
West Ham’s misery was compounded when the Metropolitan Police opened an investigation after a homophobic leaflet was allegedly distributed outside the London Stadium before the match. The club have promised the perpetrators face severe sanctions.
The material, which emerged on social media, encouraged West Ham supporters to start a sickening song full of homophobic slurs about Chelsea defender John Terry when the game kicked off. The chants were not heard during the game but West Ham insisted they would ‘take the strongest possible action’ against those involved.