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Mass violence mars London derby

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Elano:
A man has been stabbed in the chest during "large-scale trouble" involving hundreds of fans at West Ham's Carling Cup match against Millwall.

Fights broke out at 1800 BST and were still raging five hours later. A 44-year-old man is stable after being stabbed in Priory Road at 2025 BST.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said missiles had been thrown at officers but none were injured.

Inside Upton Park stadium West Ham fans invaded the pitch three times.

By 2300 BST several hundred West Ham fans had congregated outside the stadium chanting and bombarding police with crates and bottles.

The first pitch invasion was after West Ham's equaliser, while the second more serious invasion happened after they scored a penalty.

It took officials about six minutes to clear about 50 people from the pitch and police had to redeploy within the stadium to tackle the invasion.


West Ham won the game 3-1 after extra time, upon which there was a third invasion by hundreds of fans.

About 200 riot police and at least 20 mounted officers were at the ground and a police helicopter circled the area.

The Press Association quoted an unnamed 19-year-old saying he saw a police officer being kicked on the ground.

The police spokesman said: "There is large-scale trouble involving hundreds of fans which we are dealing with at the moment.

"Officers are now containing it but there is still disorder. Hundreds of fans are estimated to be involved."

One pub reportedly had its windows broken by bricks during running battles across several streets up to half a mile from the stadium.

Eyewitnesses told of hooligans trying to rip out bollards and lighting "small fires".

Five arrests have been confirmed, including one for affray and one for breaching a banning order.

BBC radio reporter Ben Jacobs, who was at the stadium, said: "The trouble broke out outside the Tube station about 600 yards from the ground.

"There were [hundreds of] riot police and Millwall fans managed to break through the divide."

'Really intimidating'

Tony, a steward at the game, told BBC Radio 5 live they were powerless to stop the violence.

He said: "When you have 2,900 Millwall fans it is really intimidating.

"There is not a lot you can do - you have to hope the police presence can help you out."

A 29-year-old man had to close his kebab shop in nearby Green Street for two hours.

He said: "All hell broke loose - it was very frightening.

"Bottles and bricks were being thrown from the back and some were hitting West Ham fans at the front.

"There were loads of people with bloodied faces."

Aaron Smith, from Hemel Hempstead, who was at the game, said: "I saw one man cornered by at least a dozen Millwall fans before kick-off. Terrifying scenes."

And a Millwall fan told the BBC: "It was like a war zone outside the stadium. There was fighting all round.

"I brought my kids with me tonight and they've seen some violence that is indescribable."

A Football Association spokesman said: "We absolutely condemn the disorder.

"We expect all culprits to be banned from football for life - they have no place in our game."

Nutty:
Hooligans.

Elano:
http://www.youtube.com/v/zwJwUEbzgh0

wardy:
Why this is even a shock to people and the media are making it out to be the 80's again is stupid, what did the police and the 2 clubs expect?, you have 2 clubs which have some of the worst reputations in world fotball and the fact its a local derby and the 2 clubs cant even stand the sight of each other should make the police think this is gonna be ww3, from what ive seen the police have fucked up and not done enough to stop the 2 groups from ganging up, as soon as that draw was made it was obvious both sets of so called fans were going to be hell bent on causing trouble

I just hope it doesn't harm our chances of us gettin the world cup and i just wish the news etc would stop fuckin going on about it as the more they rant on the more publicity these pricks are getting.

Elano:
Steve Bacon has been West Ham's official photographer for over 35 years. Last night was the scariest he can recall at Upton Park. Here is his account from where he was working on the pitch.

"It was hostile from the start which made it very difficult to work. I was at the Trevor Brooking Stand end, in the corner where it meets the West Stand. I always take my place there as that's the way West Ham normally kick. Although they went the other way this time, I decided to stay where I was.

"At first there was just a lot of banter. The stewards were trying to calm down the Millwall fans in the lower stand but I couldn't see any trouble. Later on though, you could see things were starting to happen in the East Stand, the old Chicken Run.

"It got naughtier as people came out of their seats in the West Stand. Young kids were being lifted over people's heads by the stewards. West Ham supporters were goading the Millwall fans.

"I noticed the referee and one of the goalkeepers pick some things off the pitch that had been thrown, I think they were coins. Stewards were carrying broken seats.

"Then West Ham scored their equaliser towards the end of the 90 minutes and people started coming onto the pitch. At first, it looked to be just delight at the goal. The West Ham fans were just strutting their stuff in front of Millwall, rather than causing any aggro. Then the atmosphere darkened.

"During extra time I went to the other end and worked the Bobby Moore Stand. I hoped it would feel safer there and it did, I didn't seem to be in any great danger. As the game ended though, people were leaping over my head to get onto the pitch.

"I was at Birmingham City a few years ago in the cup when there were problems. I remember standing with Tony Cottee on the sidelines as everyone else ran for shelter. But as far as trouble goes at home, this was the most intimidating atmosphere I have witnessed. It was scary and hard to work.

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