“That was not acceptable”, West Ham said in a statement, “and we will work with the police to identify those responsible and ban them for life”.
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In scenes of violence that revived memories of English soccer in the 1970s and ’80s, United’s bus – surrounded by riot police – was pelted with objects as it crawled through hundreds of fans toward Upton Park for the team’s match against West Ham.
The Boleyn Ground, which has been home to West Ham United for 112 years, was hosting its last match last night when fans attacked the visitors’ coach.
“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”.
Before kick-off, West Ham co-owner David Sullivan appeared to claim the incident had not taken place. It’s not for me to say, but it was disappointing of course.
Yesterday, a long-time target in Mats Hummels was snapped up by Bayern Munich so it is now being reported in the Mirror that Varane is the man that United want at the back.
“There was congestion in the street and they couldn’t get the coach in”.
When asked on Wednesday if the trouble highlighted the importance of West Ham imminent move to the London 2012 athletics stadium, Gold said: “I think it does, doesn’t it?”
“The events in the stadium last night were incredible and it would be a shame if the actions of a mindless few outside overshadowed them”.
“We will work closely with both clubs and the Metropolitan Police to fully investigate these matters”.
United boss Louis van Gaal said the incident was “not so nice”.
“First of all you can not prove that (it had an effect)”, he said of the loss that leaves them facing an uphill challenge in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Those comments were contrary to the images of smashed windows and led Sullivan to release a statement on Wednesday in which he reiterated West Ham’s vow to hand down life bans to the culprits.
“You can see sadly what happened was we had a situation of having probably 45,000 fans and the infrastructure can’t cope with it”. Okay, I have a long experience in football and there are players who don’t have the experience.
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No arrests have been made over criminal damage to the bus but three men were arrested during the game, including one for fighting and two for entering the field. “We changed the match in the second-half, 20 minutes before time, we are ahead, so I don’t think you have to look for that excuse”.
