West Ham United ‘animals’ slammed by Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso after Conference League final
West Ham treated Fiorentina like “animals” in the Europa Conference League final, according to the latter’s president Rocco Commisso.
The Hammers defeated the Italian outfit 2-1 in Prague on Wednesday (7 June) thanks to goals from Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen.
Fiorentina lost striker Luca Jovic at half-time due to a broken nose, while defender Cristiano Biraghi had to be heavily bandaged up after being hit by an object from West Ham fans.
“I expected to win, but it wasn’t like that,” said Commisso, as quoted by BBC Sport. “But there have been episodes on the pitch where the referee had to make the difference.
“I spoke to the president of the Premier League, those of West Ham are animals in the way they treated ours. It’s not right.
“This match could be won 3-0. I’m sorry for the fans, they deserved more.”
Unwanted crowd trouble
The section of West Ham supporters who threw objects onto the pitch really let themselves and their club down in Prague, with no room for such events at a football match.
What makes the issue more shameful is that the Hammers had only just witnessed a group of their own supporters being attacked in the semi-final second leg clash with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.
Whether before, during or after a match, such crowd trouble is simply unacceptable, and ultimately a waste of everyone’s time.
David Moyes’s men thankfully dominated the headlines for what they achieved on the night, but now the limelight may focus on the group of fans who struck Fiorentina’s Biraghi, with those fans undoubtedly deserving of a lifetime ban from any events involving West Ham at the very least.
On the pitch, it was a professional and determined performance from the Hammers, with the players involved in a night they will never forget.