200 face banning orders over West Ham violence

Skirmishes broke out towards the end of West Ham’ 2-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday, with police and stewards battling to keep supporters apart as coins, bottles and plastic seats were thrown.

Fans clash with the police during the EFL Cup fourth round match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium.

West Ham United said Thursday that up to 200 people faced banning orders after violence marred its English League Cup tie at home to London rival Chelsea.

Skirmishes broke out towards the end of Hammers’ 2-1 win on Wednesday, with police and stewards battling to keep supporters apart as coins, bottles and plastic seats were thrown.

There was a heavy police presence in place at the London Stadium, formerly the Olympic Stadium, which has seen repeated violence involving West Ham fans since they moved into their new home at the start of the season.

Both clubs condemned the violence soon after the match and on Thursday a joint statement issued by West Ham and the London Stadium revealed the number of spectators at risk of a stadium ban after officials had studied closed circuit television footage of the disorder.

“West Ham United and London Stadium are finalising the identification of 200 individuals who will receive stadium bans having been involved in incidents of disorder during West Ham’s EFL cup victory over Chelsea,” the statement said.

“Banning notifications will be issued for offences ranging from the use of abusive and offensive language to missile throwing. In line with our zero tolerance policy, all those involved will receive a seasonal or lifetime ban depending on the severity of the offence.”

Having intially said Thursday there had been seven arrests for public order offences, London’s Metropolitan Police later corrected that figure to six.

Of those six, three have now been charged, with one fan alone facing charges of common assault, assault on police and possession of class A drugs.

Earlier, Tracey Crouch, Britain’s sports minister, was among those calling for anyone involved in the violence to be given a life-ban.