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Robbie Savage rages at West Ham United incident v AZ Alkmaar after fan trouble
Robbie Savage couldn’t believe his eyes as the families of the West Ham United squad were attacked by hooded AZ Alkmaar fans after their Europa Conference League semi-final victory on Thursday evening (18 May).
Pablo Fornals’ injury-time winner ensured that David Moyes’ side progressed to next month’s final to face Fiorentina after a 3-1 aggregate score over the two legs.
However, the 1-0 victory at the AFAS Stadium descended into carnage when Alkmaar fans raced around the ground to attack a section of the Hammers’ support where the players’ loved ones were sitting, with several players stepping in to try and halt the onrushing ultras.
“Absolute madness,” Savage said. [BT Sports 21:56]
“It was the AZ Alkmaar fans in the gate at the far corner, not pleasant scenes at all.”
Horrific
These scenes are never something that you want to witness at a football match, and hopefully, all those West Ham fans who were caught up in the altercation are okay.
The fact that several Hammers players had to step in to stop this group of supporters is a terrible insight into just how bad the security was at the stadium.
There have been scenes of this manner at several European ties over the last few years, with the PSG against Liverpool Champions League final a flashpoint to the extreme worries over security at high-profile matches.
Howe UEFA hasn’t rectified the security at such high-profile events is just plain ridiculous.
West Ham United fans may now never want to go to a European away game – maybe even the final itself – through fears for their own safety.
Supporters shouldn’t even have to worry about their own personal well-being, and hopefully, this will be an incident that will spark profound change within the authorities – because it is clearly needed.