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FA Launching Inquiry Into London Stadium Violence At West Ham Vs. Chelsea Match

The FA announced an inquiry "into the violence that marred Wednesday night's League Cup tie between West Ham United and Chelsea at London Stadium," according to Neil Robinson of REUTERS. The scenes "were a throwback to the hooliganism that blighted English football at the end of the last century, bottles and coins were thrown, seats ripped up and stewards struggled to control rival fans seeking to confront each other." There was "also violence outside the stadium, the centrepiece of the 2012 Olympics, where riot police intervened as supporters clashed on their way back to the London Underground." The FA confirmed that it launched an investigation and will "assess the evidence after talking to both clubs." Police said that "seven arrests were made." Both West Ham and Chelsea said that they would "issue life bans to any identified trouble-makers." Outbreaks of trouble have "already been recorded at West Ham's Premier League games against Watford, Sunderland and Middlesbrough this season, and fears have been raised of a repeat with 5,000 Chelsea supporters travelling to the game between traditional rivals from east and west London" (REUTERS, 10/27). In London, Adam Crafton reported an evening that began with "simmering tensions as scuffles broke out between supporters outside the turnstiles ended with damning images of West Ham and Chelsea fans having to be separated by riot police." By halftime, an image posted on social media "appeared to show a Chelsea fan with his head cut after being struck by a coin, and later footage showed seats ripped out and hurled between fans along with bottles and coins." One supporter described the scenes as "an absolute nightmare" on BBC Radio 5 Live. The fan added, "It was like the 1970s." Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said that the scenes were "desperately sad" and that "football and the authorities have worked extremely hard to tackle this type of behavior over the last 30 years ... no one wants to see a return to the dark days of the late '70s and '80s." The "shameful scenes" broke out in the final five minutes of the game as rival factions appeared to "breach the lines of segregation and tried to confront each other in the zone above the seating areas." As stewards and riot police "raced into the area, hundreds of fans appeared to be involved as tensions rose" (DAILY MAIL, 10/26).

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS?: In London, James Gheerbrant reported West Ham "should be forced to play home games in front of an empty stadium" if there is a repeat of the crowd violence that marred the win over Chelsea, an MP said. The "ugly scenes" on Wednesday prompted Mark Field MP, vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary football group, to call for the East London club to "prevent further violence or face severe punishment." He said, "None of these problems were unforeseeable given the nature of the stadium and difficulties with policing large footballing crowds. If there is a repeat of the violence, the next two or three home games for West Ham should be played behind closed doors" (LONDON TIMES, 10/27).

BANNING ORDERS: In London, David Hytner reported West Ham intends to issue banning orders to 200 fans. The club has resolved to take "a strong stand" over the various issues of bad behavior, which saw the worst offenders "throw missiles including ripped-up seats, bottles and coins at their Chelsea counterparts." They plan to issue lifetime bans to those individuals. But West Ham is "so mindful of the battering" that its public image has taken this season because of several flashpoints at its new stadium that it will clamp down on other offenses, "including fans rushing across the segregation lines to bait their Chelsea rivals and making throat-slitting and other offensive gestures." They want to ban these offenders "for the remainder of the season" (GUARDIAN, 10/27).

'UNACCEPTABLE': Also in London, Jeremy Wilson reported there were what police have called "unacceptable" incidents before, during and after the match, both inside and outside the stadium. The clubs and police are "now working through extensive CCTV and video footage of the various incidents and, as well as potential criminal action, West Ham and Chelsea have both promised to issue banning orders against fans shown to have misbehaved." Questions are "also being asked of West Ham and the stadium operators after what was the latest in a series of violent incidents at the new stadium." Despite "extensive planning," they were unable to prevent Chelsea and West Ham supporters from "bunching up in the gangways behind the away section of the stadium in the closing minutes of the match." There is now "particular scrutiny" on the decision to position away fans directly below a large platform where supporters gather before leaving. Some fans are also "asking why West Ham did not wait before selling tickets to home fans in the block last night that would be closest to the Chelsea supporters" (TELEGRAPH, 10/27). ESPN.com's Liam Twomey reported West Ham "could also face sanctions" from the FA. Police said that 30 people "were issued with directions to disperse" under antisocial behavior legislation prior to kickoff. Metropolitan Police Commander B.J. Harrington said, "Although the vast majority of people left the stadium peacefully and were well behaved, there were a minority of people who attended the match that were clearly intent on being involved in confrontation and violence." A "heavy police presence" was visible around the London Stadium ahead of kickoff and 1,000 stewards were also deployed to manage security (ESPN.com, 10/27).

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