EastStandBlue
Life President
- Joined
- May 29, 2005
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Scenes that would make your casual hobbit masquerading as a hooligan squeal were on show tonight, as West Ham entertained Millwall in more ways than one.
It was the draw that made half of East London wince and the other half salivate, the draw that made the Metropolitan Police kicked into damage limitation overtime and the draw that, bizarrely, West Ham thought a good idea to place tickets for on general sale.
This led to 2,300 Millwall fans descending on Upton Park legally, and almost as many illegally, adding fuel to the fire that was so obviously bound to ignite. Overcrowding at tube stations caused the first of the evenings altercations, Millwall fans allegedly vaulting barriers in order to "Sorrrt sam of those Mugs Ahht."
Understatement of the night, however, went to the Metrolpolitan Police Spokesman who came out with his thought that "It looks like there has been some planned trouble from fans." No. Really? Well, What caused you to come to that conclusion? Was it the brawl outside Upton Park and the consequent stabbing? How about the numerous reports of property damage and vandalism when hooligans searched for potential missiles? No, no... Wait, it must've been the reports of large groups of fans breaking through riot police barriers to start altercations.
Trouble wasn't spared just for outside the ground either. After Neil Harris gave Millwall the lead in the first half, it became evident that some Millwall fans had found their way into the home seating and events turned sour. Pitch invasions and reports of brawls inside the stadium were brought to the attention of the press, a situation not exactly helped by Junior Stanislas and his provocative goal celebrations. Even at the age of 19, he should know better.
Unfortunately, reports that Danny Dyer had been involved in the scenes are believed to be false. He is infact too much of a coward to experience anything close to this at first hand, and was more than likely shacked up in a bedsit with Tamer Hassan watching Eastenders.
Both clubs will feel the brunt of this in the coming days and weeks. In a year when the country is bidding to host the World Cup, the last thing needed is a full size brawl reminiscent of the 70's and 80's and events such as a Heysel, which saw the countries clubs banned from European competition for several years.
Banning orders and prosecution will be rife amongst those 'Ard enough to be involved, but West Ham will not be able to hide from the fact they acted negligent at best in allowing tickets for such a heated local derby to be sold on general sale, only inviting trouble. The most poignant comment of the night goes to the Millwall fan who informed the BBC that: "I brought my kids with me tonight and they've seen some violence that is indescribable."
It was the draw that made half of East London wince and the other half salivate, the draw that made the Metropolitan Police kicked into damage limitation overtime and the draw that, bizarrely, West Ham thought a good idea to place tickets for on general sale.
This led to 2,300 Millwall fans descending on Upton Park legally, and almost as many illegally, adding fuel to the fire that was so obviously bound to ignite. Overcrowding at tube stations caused the first of the evenings altercations, Millwall fans allegedly vaulting barriers in order to "Sorrrt sam of those Mugs Ahht."
Understatement of the night, however, went to the Metrolpolitan Police Spokesman who came out with his thought that "It looks like there has been some planned trouble from fans." No. Really? Well, What caused you to come to that conclusion? Was it the brawl outside Upton Park and the consequent stabbing? How about the numerous reports of property damage and vandalism when hooligans searched for potential missiles? No, no... Wait, it must've been the reports of large groups of fans breaking through riot police barriers to start altercations.
Trouble wasn't spared just for outside the ground either. After Neil Harris gave Millwall the lead in the first half, it became evident that some Millwall fans had found their way into the home seating and events turned sour. Pitch invasions and reports of brawls inside the stadium were brought to the attention of the press, a situation not exactly helped by Junior Stanislas and his provocative goal celebrations. Even at the age of 19, he should know better.
Unfortunately, reports that Danny Dyer had been involved in the scenes are believed to be false. He is infact too much of a coward to experience anything close to this at first hand, and was more than likely shacked up in a bedsit with Tamer Hassan watching Eastenders.
Both clubs will feel the brunt of this in the coming days and weeks. In a year when the country is bidding to host the World Cup, the last thing needed is a full size brawl reminiscent of the 70's and 80's and events such as a Heysel, which saw the countries clubs banned from European competition for several years.
Banning orders and prosecution will be rife amongst those 'Ard enough to be involved, but West Ham will not be able to hide from the fact they acted negligent at best in allowing tickets for such a heated local derby to be sold on general sale, only inviting trouble. The most poignant comment of the night goes to the Millwall fan who informed the BBC that: "I brought my kids with me tonight and they've seen some violence that is indescribable."
