CandH Exclusive by Hughie Southon
West Ham are refusing to blame the London Stadium’s security forces for the outbreak of violence that disfigured the match against Anderlecht on Thursday evening.
Various reports that seats and coins were hurled at Hammers fans by the visiting fans.
Flares were also let off and the London Evening Standard also reported that the away fans clashed with police inside the stadium.
At the final whistle Anderlecht fans attempted to invade the pitch which saw the stadium’s stewards intervene and eventually lead Anderlecht manager Felice Mazzu to apologise for the behaviour of his club’s fans.
Uefa has announced that it will be holding an investigation in a bid to apportion responsibility, but the Hammers have made it clear that no blame can be attached to the stewarding which is operated by the London Stadium.
A source told Claret and Hugh: “I’m not sure we’d have done it better. We needed the police earlier. Their fans had been drinking all day.”