The West Ham players who tried to protect their families and friends from charging AZ Alkmaar hooligans could be banned by UEFA, it has been claimed.
Violence broke out in the stands following the Hammers’ 1-0 win in the Netherlands on Thursday night, which secured their place in the Europa Conference League final. Some West Ham players became involved in the scuffles after fearing the ultras could reach loved ones in the stands.
Video footage shared on social media showed Declan Rice, Said Benrahma, Flynn Downes and Michail Antonio trying to prevent Alkmaar fans from getting to their families. Rice threw a water bottle in their direction, while the other three were seen in physical altercations with the thugs. The Telegraph reports that they could now be slapped with a ban by UEFA.
European football’s governing body has remained silent on the issue so far and there is understood to be no desire to hand out bans before the Conference League final between West Ham and Fiorentina inPrague on June 7. But Rice and his team-mates will have to persuade a commission that they acted due to exceptional circumstances.
UEFA will be keen to follow the normal disciplinary process, which will also see AZ Alkmaar punished for the action of a minority of their fans. Alongside a handful of Hammers supports, including “Knollsy”, the players become involved to protect vulnerable people in the stands.
Alkmaar ultras were easily able to push down a temporary fence and get past security staff and stewards to charge at West Ham fans. David Moyes’ 87-year-old father was among those left scared in the stands as the hooded hooligans approached.
West Ham fan Knollsy has been hailed as a hero after he held off the hoard of supporters on the steps up to the stands. “You could see they were intent on causing trouble and I did not want them to get to those behind us,” he said.
“I saw them all congregate on the side of the pitch and then they broke down the barriers and headed to the first group of West Ham fans.
“I know what they were intent on doing and was not going to let it happen. It was fairly obvious what was going to happen because they were intent on coming to us. They were the ultras, you could see that from what they were wearing. I just decided I wasn't going to let them come up.”
AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jensen condemned his own fans, saying: “I feel a bit ashamed that those scenes happened in our stadium. It shouldn't be happening – the game didn't go as we hoped, but you have to stay in control of your emotions.”
West Ham match-winner Pablo Fornals added: Obviously, I was really concerned about how the family of my team-mates and the West Ham family are. Now the police can do their job and find out who did it.
“It’s not great when you are in that beautiful moment and other people are trying to use violence against you. But we can’t do anything but help the police and help them find out who did this.”
