There have been many times since leaving Upton Park when I’ve wondered if West Ham United genuinely care about match-going fans anymore.
Of course, the right noises are made, and the club trots out platitudes about loyal fans, but there’s a growing suspicion that some elements of the Hammers hierarchy aren’t really on the fans’ side.
This was disappointingly demonstrated by the club’s response to allegations whipped up by The Sun newspaper, showing scuffles at the London Stadium.
Propaganda began spreading on social media, accusing West Ham fans of fighting each other, without anyone appearing to convey the true cause of the unrest.
The scuffles were caused by groups of Arsenal fans sitting in the West Ham sections, some wearing Arsenal colours and celebrating openly when their team scored. Unsurprisingly, this provoked Hammers fans, many of whom reasonably requested the opposition supporters be removed. Unfortunately, when this didn’t happen quickly, tensions rose and inevitably there was unrest.
This request to remove opposition fans is not only sensible on health and safety grounds but also in line with Premier League and FA rules:
“All clubs have strict policies against support for the away side in home areas, including hospitality boxes.”
The truth of the matter is that Gunners fans should never have been allowed into the home section. Nobody is condoning violence but the rules are in place for a reason. There is a certain irony to West Ham and the London Stadium building a wall to sperate rival fans, whilst at he same time creating an environment where they can gain entry on official tickets.
The day the stadium turned its back on Hammers fans
What happened in Stratford on Saturday was either a breakdown in stewarding, ticketing, or both. One would expect the club to be sheepish or at least apologetic, but instead, they appear to be investigating… West Ham fans.
To make matters worse, a club spokesman gave credibility to The Sun’s sensationalist report by issuing an apologetic statement to the tabloid:
“The club is aware of the incident and will be working to identify the offenders,” read the West Ham United statement.
“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 or travel with the club. There is no place for this kind of behaviour at our stadium.”
Club chose to address the tabloids rather than fans
Allow me to save them the trouble of investigating: this situation was caused by allowing Arsenal fans into West Ham sections and failing to eject them promptly when identified.
The club seem to have completely missed the point that they won’t be able to identify and ban the true offenders because they’ll be Arsenal fans.
The notion that stadium security could identify banned individuals is preposterous. The stewards let Arsenal fans, some in full kit, through two separate security checks to mingle freely with Hammers fans inside the ground.
If high-vis-jacketed staff can’t spot a group of blokes in bright red shirts festooned with cannons and Saka printed on the back, how can they identify anyone else?
Why the club issued a statement to a tabloid instead of defending its fans is baffling. Karen Brady’s The Sun column may have influenced the decision, but one would hope her loyalties rest with West Ham supporters.
The statement’s tone suggests West Ham will target and ban their own fans for reacting to provocation, whilst those responsible for selling tickets to Arsenal fans and failing to eject them go unpunished.
Added to the concession ticket debacle, overpriced catering, and the horrendous stop-and-go system outside the Olympic Park, this is another low for the club and the venue.
At Upton Park, away fans occasionally sneaked in but were dealt with swiftly. It’s an open secret in the Premier League that The London Stadium is a soft touch, and away fans feel free to sit in the home end — a situation that looks set to continue.
