Credit: Imago and X

Richie Mills

Tue 7 April 2026 15:10, UK

Alan Pardew should have called out West Ham United fans who left early during their FA Cup quarter-final loss to Leeds United.

West Ham looked to be heading to a disappointing last-eight exit on Sunday after goals in either half from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

After the striker’s penalty, West Ham fans were seen exiting the ground around the 75th-minute mark.

But many were seen trying to get back into the stands after two goals in second-half stoppage time from Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi.

However, supporters were refused entry, and footage has since circulated of fans watching their 4-2 penalty shootout loss on FaceTime, as Leeds advanced to the semi-finals.

Former West Ham boss Pardew was asked about this turn of events and gave a predictable but, ultimately, milquetoast response.

Alan Pardew makes excuses for West Ham fans

There seems to be a growing sense of entitlement amongst fanbases these days.

Brighton qualified for the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history in 2023, and now many fans are demanding European football every season.

Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium has been given the moniker of “Emptyhad”, due to the ground virtually emptying before the final whistle blows as an easy win is assured.

But with many Premier League fans being priced out due to hefty ticket prices, supporters expect to get their money’s worth – something West Ham’s faithful feel they are falling short on.

But to see so many fans leaving the ground with a good 15 minutes to go, followed by their desperate efforts to clamber back into the stadium, was not a good look – with many rival supporters calling it out.

Nearly two decades on from Pardew leading West Ham to an FA Cup final, he refused to point the finger of blame at those fleeing the stadium.

When asked about West Ham fans leaving early and then trying to get back in, Pardew said on talkSPORT: “We’re 2-0 down, it’s not an easy place to get out of, I can understand why they have left early.

“I am not going to criticise them for that. Usually, the stewarding is particularly lax. So I was expecting them all to come flooding back in, and some did, but some didn’t, unfortunately.”

West Ham fans’ reaction sums up feeling around the club

This season, West Ham fans have staged repeated demonstrations against the club’s owners due to deteriorating performances and questionable transfers.

The gloom has been somewhat lifted around London Stadium in 2026 due to an upturn in results as Nuno Espirito Santo gets a tune out of the Hammers.

The protests have died down in recent months, although a “David Sullivan and Karren Brady out” banner was flown over Pirelli Stadium before West Ham’s FA Cup win over Burton Albion in February.

There is still a lot of discontent and ill-feeling towards the club’s owners, particularly as they announced losses of £104million for the 2024-25 season.

Moreover, the Hammers revealed that they will still have to sell players this summer even if they stay up, with Nuno’s side currently sitting in 18th.

West Ham fans have every right to criticise the board and feel dissatisfaction at the malaise they are currently in. And they are entitled to leave early, but that does not protect them from criticism.