Hammers fans involved in unsavoury scenes

  • by Staff Writer
  • Monday, 23rd January 2017

Seven people have been arrested in relation to incidents that occurred before, during and after West Ham United's 3-1 win at Middlesbrough.

Four 'Boro supporters and three West Ham fans had their collars felt in the wake of a number of disturbing scenes and flashes of violence that occurred both in and around the Riverside Stadium.

Two of the travelling supporters were arrested before kick-off for drug-related offences whilst the third, a 57-year-old man was detained on Friday night in relation to a breached banning order.

As for the Middlesbrough supporters, two - aged 23 and 24 - were arrested inside the stadium on suspicion of assault and a third for disorderly conduct. A fourth man was arrested outside the stadium after the game for affray.




Meanwhile several supporters have spoken about the hostile atmosphere which greeted West Ham's 3,000 travelling fans on Saturday - with one prominent KUMB member comparing the scenes to the dark days of football hooliganism.

"I saw two West Ham fans going down and 20+ kicking them on the floor," he said. "Two separate incidents within 20 yards of each other, right outside the ground.

"I tried to help and it was just chaos - then was also a group [of 'Boro fans] with knives further down before you went under the main bridge towards the subway.

"I must have seen half-a-dozen regular [West Ham] fans take clumps from behind. One big lump had a go at me and gave it all the 'you stabbed our fans' caper.

"When i told him he was just as bad, attacking normal fans, he replied 'you aren't wearing colours, so you're fair game'."

Another travelling KUMB member also witnessed similar scenes after the game. "Me and my mate walked back to the station going behind their stand," they said. "There was a lot of shouting, punches thrown and general bravado from them.

"I saw someone get slapped and was told it was one of our fans, not a bloke looking for trouble. Even some older 'Boro fans said it was out of order. All the while there were no Police in sight.

"The 'Boro lot lined up across the road waiting for our lot, who by now had grouped up - but still no Plod, They only got involved when our fans got together and gave it back.

"They ['Boro fans] were mostly younger lads picking on ones, twos or small numbers. They didn't have a lot of bottle when ours got together. Definitely one of the more lively aways I've been to for a while."

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