West Ham United set to send teams to USA despite 2023 allegations
West Ham United are set to send a team to the seven-aside competition in the USA where their players walked off the pitch last year amid allegations of racial abuse, according to Mike Keegan.
The Daily Mail journalist, writing in his Sports Agenda column (15 January, page 61) shares that the Hammers are keen to go back to The Soccer Tournament in North Carolina which has a 1million dollar (£785k) prize fund.
West Ham are likely to send a Women’s team as well as a Men’s which will again include several legends but could also feature some academy players after some chastening experiences last year.
Brave
This is a brave call from West Ham United to go back to a place where they faced some needless and terrible abuse when they visited last year.
It may have been a very damaging experience for some of the young players they sent to participate in that competition and credit to the club if they feel they can take part amid all the abuse.
It’s the correct call to add some experience to the trip for the young players to be shielded and protected should they face it again but it is an experience that West Ham will not want to miss.
It’s not just the million-dollar prize fund that’s on offer but the chance to boost the club’s profile in the US which can only help their merchandise, worldwide following and standing amongst the elite sides in the world.
Despite everything that happened last year, it certainly seems as if the Hammers aren’t fazed by it at all and will enter the competition with a laser-eyed focus and precision that can only benefit the club in the long haul.
In other West Ham news, the club are ready to step their foot on the accelerator to sign one £20m attacker in the January transfer window.