Saturday , October 5 2024

West Ham promise life bans for supporters who attacked Manchester United team

West Ham have promised to ban for life any supporters who are identified following trouble before their Premier League clash with Manchester United at Upton Park on Tuesday evening.

Manchester United did not arrive at the ground until 7.10pm, prompting the kick-off to be delayed until 8.30pm and the team coach had to battle through throngs of West Ham fans gathering outside the stadium as they prepared to say goodbye.

As the driver manoeuvred his way through the car park gates, the coach was pelted with glass bottles and other missiles – breaking and damaging the tinted windows, with one police officer and a member of the public suffering minor injuries.

Winston Reid’s header gave the Hammers a 3-2 win but the game was overshadowed by the trouble and a statement from the club said: ‘It was an extraordinary night full of extraordinary moments in front of extraordinary fans. 99 percent of whom behaved impeccably and were a credit to the club.The extent of the damage to the windows was clear for all to see with the away team coach being targeted

Bottles, beer and missiles are thrown as the bus tries to make its way through the crowds at Upton Park

‘We have already had thousands of Tweets and emails from fans to say how proud they were to be a part of such a special evening in West Ham’s history.

‘However, we are aware that there were some supporters outside the Boleyn Ground who didn’t act in an appropriate way when the Manchester United team bus was damaged.

‘That was not acceptable and we will work with the police to identify those responsible and ban them for life.’

Kick-off was delayed 45 minutes after fans attacked the bus as it arrived at the stadium

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