West Ham have urged supporters to be on their best behaviour when Eintracht Frankfurt visit the London Stadium on Thursday, as the club gears up for its biggest game in decades.
The Hammers host the German club in their first European semi-final since 1976, but there is potential for trouble around the Europa League tie, after West Ham and Frankfurt fans clashed when their sides played last-16 ties in Seville in the same week last month.
Frankfurt played Real Betis in the Spanish city a night before West Ham lost 1-0 to Sevilla. After the Frankfurt game, a number of German fans targeted West Ham supporters in a bar, with bottles thrown before police intervened and fired rubber bullets.
There have been other incidents at West Ham’s European games this season. Two fans made their way onto the pitch during the home leg of the quarter-final against Lyon, while both West Ham and Rapid Vienna were fined when fans clashed in the group stage.
In a statement today, West Ham said: “A message to West Ham United supporters…
“As we look forward to a Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt, West Ham United would like to sincerely thank our supporters for your continued magnificent backing.
“During a scintillating and unforgettable campaign so far, Hammers fans have been the cornerstone of our fairytale run to the last four, where we now face the prospect of one more monumental encounter in front of 60,000 fans under the lights at London Stadium.
“On Thursday night, the eyes of the world will be on West Ham United.
“This wonderful occasion is an opportunity to show the passion and pride that makes our fans famous around the world, and to illustrate the effect your positive backing can have on the team throughout each match. Everyone at the club recognises that each and every supporter is an ambassador for West Ham United.
“West Ham United is an inclusive football club. Regardless of age, race, disability, religion, gender or sexual orientation, every supporter within our diverse fanbase should be free to enjoy watching their team play football without fear, discrimination or abuse. And we remain committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe, respected and included.
“Equally, we want the atmosphere inside London Stadium to be one of positive energy and enjoyment for players, officials and supporters combined. In recent matches, there have been a number of people who have entered the pitch, either during or after the match has finished.
“All perpetrators of public order offences, which includes pitch encroaching and other recent incidents of throwing objects and the use of pyrotechnics, will receive lengthy stadium bans and further possible legal sanctions.
“Please continue to support the Hammers in the right way and help to ensure that nothing can tarnish our most-anticipated fixture in many, many years.”
