Fan stabbed as hundreds of hooligans riot at match between Millwall and West Ham

26th August 2009

A football fan was stabbed during vicious clashes between hundreds of rival fans at a match between Millwall and West Ham last night.

At least 10 people were arrested after bitter rivalry between the two clubs notorious for hooliganism sparked clashes before, during and after the game.

The Carling Cup match had to be suspended when scores of supporters invaded the pitch at Upton Park in east London and bricks and bottles were thrown at officials and police.

Millwall

The 44-year-old was stabbed in the chest just yards from the West Ham ground and is today in a stable condition in hospital.

Two other fans had to be taken to hospital for treatment to less serious injuries after what police called ‘large-scale’ violence.

Officers and football club officials are now scouring CCTV footage to try and pick out those responsible, who face being banned from matches for life.

Millwall and West Ham have one of the longest-standing rivalries in English football but have rarely been in the same division and have not played each other since 2005.

One West Ham fan said the violent scenes ‘seemed to belong to another era’.

Up to 1,000 riot police battled to contain the clashes when the fighting started shortly after 6pm as thousands of fans made their way to the ground.

Trouble flared before the match began at 7.45pm as fans started punching each other and throwing bricks and bottles.

John Whittingham, 35, a caretaker who lives near the ground, said: ‘There were lots of scuffles and fights before the game. I saw a couple of people with bloody faces.

‘People were throwing bricks but I haven’t got a clue where they were finding them. Some people were trying to rip bollards off the pavement. There were also some fires lit.’

Tensions then completely boiled over as West Ham took the lead in extra time and around 60 fans ran on to the pitch.

One Millwall fan said: ‘It was like a war zone outside the stadium. I brought my kids with me and they’ve seen some violence that is indescribable.’

Among the spectators in the ground was actress Jaime Winstone, engaged to Lily Allen’s brother Alfie.

Miss Allen begged on social-networking website Twitter: ‘Millwall-WestHam, stop fighting, my Jaime is there. If anything happens to her… I don’t know, just stop it!’

Police and stewards had battled to keep the two sets of fans apart during the game as they taunted one another as news of the fighting outside filtered through.

But when the game ended, hundreds of fan invaded the pitch again and had to be forcibly removed.

A 56-year-old man said: ‘There were a lot of lunatics around. The thing is, between these two sets of fans, it’s hatred. The teams haven’t played each other for so long so I suppose it was always going to kick off.’

The manager of a nearby kebab shop said: ‘All hell broke loose, it was very frightening. It’s not every day you see stuff like that. There were West Ham fans on one side and Millwall on the other. They were being kept apart by the police.

‘There were West Ham fans for as far as you could see along the street. Bottles and bricks were being thrown from the back and some were hitting West Ham fans at the front. There were loads of people with blooded faces.’

A Football Association spokesman said: ‘We absolutely condemn all of the disorder that has occurred at Upton Park this evening both inside and outside of the ground.

‘We will be working with all parties, including the police and clubs, to establish the facts surrounding tonight’s events. We strongly expect all culprits to be banned from football for life. They have no place in our game.’

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola also spoke of his shock, saying: ‘It’s certainly not good for football. I was completely shocked. Totally. I knew it was a game that meant a lot for the two sets of supporters, but I didn’t imagine it like this.

‘What can I say? I’m a sport man. I love the game. I love to go on the pitch and try and make it exciting for the supporters and enjoyable for everybody to watch. This was beyond my powers.’

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett added: ‘There were no Millwall fans on the pitch. They stayed where they were supposed to. There were a lot of people on the pitch. The lads gathered together and came to the sides, as they should have.

‘I wasn’t aware of the stabbing outside the ground. I’m very sad to hear that. We’ve got a passionate game in this country, but when it oversteps the mark then things have to be done.’

The clashes are the worst violence between the clubs for decades. Formed by rival dockers in London’s East End in the late 19th century, the two have long been known for their rivalry.

Affrontements lors du match West Ham-Milwall du championnat anglais

26.08.2009

Un supporter a été poignardé lors d’affrontements violents avant le match West Ham contre Millwall du championnat anglais mardi, tandis que la rencontre était pertubée par plusieurs incursions de spectateurs sur la pelouse.

Des centaines de supporters ont participé à ces heurts avant la rencontre entre les deux clubs de la périphérie de Londres à Upton Park, a précisé la police métropolitaine. Un homme de 44 ans a été agressé à l’arme blanche près du stade et a été hospitalisé. Son état est stationnaire selon la police.

L’association de football britannique a condamné ces violences, tant dans les tribunes qu’aux abords du stade, précisant qu’elle travaillerait avec la police et les clubs pour clarifier les faits. « Nous espérons vivement que les coupables seront bannis du football à vie. Ils n’ont rien à faire dans notre jeu » précise le communiqué de la fédération. AP

Man stabbed as English football thugs run riot at West Ham v Millwall match

mirror.co.uk

Aug 26 2009

English football went back to the bad old days of the 70s as hooligans ran riot last night.

One man was stabbed and another was hit on the head with a dart as running battles broke out at Upton Park in north London, where West Ham were playing Millwall in the Carling Cup.

Hundreds of rival fans were involved in the disorder.

Police blamed thugs who had turned up without tickets, planning to start trouble.

But the match itself was marred by several pitch invasions before West Ham won 3-1 in extra time.

When the final whistle blew, hundreds of fans again streamed on to the pitch and fought police and stewards.

As supporters poured out of the ground, police closed several roads and ushered them towards a tube station.

Around 200 cops in riot gear and at least 20 mounted officers patrolled outside.

A 29-year-old man who runs a kebab shop in nearby Green Street said: « All hell broke loose. It was very frightening. There were West Ham fans on one side and Millwall on the other.

« They were being kept apart by the police. There were West Ham fans for as far as you could see along the street.

« Bottles and bricks were being thrown from the back and some were hitting West Ham fans at the front.

« There were loads of people with bloodied faces. »

Another witness said: « People were chipping bricks off buildings and throwing them at police. I saw one officer getting kicked as he was on the ground. »

A local resident added: »There were a lot of lunatics around.

« The thing is, between these two sets of fans, it’s hatred. The teams haven’t played each other for so long, so I suppose it was always going to kick off.

« The Old Bill seemed to have done quite well. »

Police said the stab victim, a 44-year-old man, was in a stable condition in hospital.

An FA spokesman said: « We expect all culprits to be banned from football for life. »

~ par Alain Bertho sur 26 août 2009.

Publié dans émeutes, riots