Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was left bleeding after being struck by an object thrown by West Ham supporters during the Europa Conference League final.
The defender was hit by multiple missiles after walking over to take a corner in front of the Hammers’ contingent and required treatment from medical staff.
One object, believed to have been a cup, struck Biraghi directly on his scalp and caused a small gash, leading blood to pour down the back of his head and his neck.
The match was halted to allow the officials to hold consultations with both captains, and a number of West Ham players attempted to calm down the unruly supporters.
A stadium announcement was made, warning fans against throwing projectiles.
Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was struck by an object thrown by West Ham supporters
Biraghi was left with a gash on the back of his head, with blood running down to his neck
Hammers captain Declan Rice was summoned to speak with referee Carlos del Cerro Grande
‘An important security announcement. Stop throwing objects onto the pitch. Please respect players and the officials,’ the brief PA message said.
Biraghi, who initially directed a sarcastic clap toward the West Ham supporters after being hit, was deemed able to continue, albeit with a bandage on his head.
Declan Rice, Nayef Aguerd, Lucas Paqueta and Vladimir Coufal also pleaded with fans to stop throwing cups from the away section of the Eden Arena.
West Ham issued a statement promising to take action against anyone found to have committed an offence and ban them from attending matches at the London Stadium.
‘West Ham United unreservedly condemn the behaviour of a small number of individuals who threw objects onto the pitch during tonight’s UEFA Europa Conference League final,’ said the statement.
‘These actions have no place in football, and do not in any way represent the values of our football club and the overwhelming majority of our supporters, who have behaved impeccably in Prague this week and throughout our last two seasons in European competition.
‘We will work with the police and other stakeholders to review the incidents and act against anyone found guilty of an offence.
‘In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police and will be given an indefinite ban and therefore be unable to enter London Stadium and travel with the club. There is no place for this kind of behaviour at West Ham United.’
During the half-time break, Joe Cole lamented the incident on BT Sport.
‘It’s moronic behaviour, it really is,’ he said. ‘We’ve praised the West Ham fans so far and rightly so, they’ve been very well behaved.
‘But it only takes a handful of idiots to do something like that.
After receiving treatment from the medical staff, the full back returned to play with a bandage
Biraghi was visibly furious after the incident, with Rice acting as an apparent peacemaker
Rice walked over to the crowd behind the goal and urged them to stop throwing projectiles
‘These lads, coming onto the pitch to play football, I’ve had it myself when you get hit with things, if someone takes someone’s eye out…
‘It needs to be sorted out and taken out the game.’
Supporters were guilty of littering the pitch with plastic cups on numerous occasions in the first half, particularly when Nicolas Gonzalez went to ground clutching his face following a coming together with Rice.
Cups were thrown during several other set-pieces delivered by Biraghi.
Sections of the West Ham faithful became increasingly irate with the decisions from referee Carlos del Cerro Grande and chanted he was ‘not fit’ to officiate.
West Ham went on to win the trophy, after goals from Said Behrahma and Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Giacomo Bonaventura’s well-taken equaliser.
Prior to the match, violence had broken out in Prague. Hammers fans were ambushed by a group of black-clad Italians in a bar and several arrests were made.
Defender Biraghi sarcastically applauded the West Ham supporters after objects were tossed
A group of partying West Ham fans were violently set upon by Fiorentina ultras on Wednesday
Pictured: Fiorentina ultras are seen outside a bar in Prague before attacking West Ham fans
A number of skirmishes took place near the city’s Old Town Square, with 16 supporters detained by Czech police after three were left with injuries.
‘Italy fans attacked West Ham fans in a bar on Rytirska Street, injuring three,’ the police force confirmed on Twitter. ‘One policeman was also attacked.
‘We have restricted the personal freedom of 16 people and we are currently investigating the whole incident.’
More than 30 arrests were made in total, it is believed.
West Ham’s semi-final tie against AZ Alkmaar in Holland was also marred by shameful scenes, with ultras from the Dutch side attacking the away section.
An investigation was launched and seven Alkmaar supporters were arrested.
Pictured: A photo released by Prague police shows a number of Fiorentina ultras detained
