West Ham followers struggle riot police in Prague after Europa Convention League win
Fans poured into the streets of the Czech capital following the Hammers’ victory over Fiorentina, with many already within the metropolis centre after hundreds of supporters travelled from the UK with out tickets.
But a scuffle broke out after cops tried to confiscate a lit flare as followers gathered within the Old Town space of town.
Riot police stormed a bunch after they lit a second flare, with followers responding by pelting the officers with bottles and missiles.
Earlier within the day Czech police stated they’d detained at the very least 16 Italian followers after they attacked West Ham supporters exterior a bar, with movies shared on social media displaying chairs and fireworks being thrown.
Celebrations had been initially good-natured after the match, with revellers hugging and kissing one another and dancing on tables in bars.
Chants of “2-1 to the cockney boys” and “Irons” additionally broke out because the Londoners welcomed the membership’s first trophy in additional than 40 years.
The closing occurred on the Fortuna Arena, which has a capability of round 19,300, with West Ham receiving an official ticket allocation of 5,000, though many extra travelled from the UK to be within the metropolis through the recreation.
Supporters watched in bars across the metropolis, together with a bunch who went wild at McCarthy’s Pub within the Old Town space from the second Jarrod Bowen gave the workforce the lead within the closing minute of the second half.
West Ham fan Aaron, 18, stated it felt “unreal” to win.
“(I’ve) never felt like it in my life,” he stated.
He stated his plan for the remainder of the evening was to “stumble back to the hotel”.
“How we get there I don’t care,” he added.
It got here hours after West Ham followers had been attacked by Italian supporters within the metropolis centre, prompting police to detain 16 folks.
Czech police stated three folks had been injured through the incident, with one police officer being attacked.
One witness stated followers of the Italian aspect had been armed with “chains and belt buckles”.
There was additionally controversy through the match as Cristiano Biraghi of Fiorentina was seen bleeding from the again of the top after he appeared to have been hit by an object thrown from the West Ham stand.
Shortly earlier than the top of the match, the English membership put out a press release condemning the behaviour of a “small number of individuals”, including: “These actions have no place in football, and do not in any way represent the values of our football club and the overwhelming majority of our supporters, who have behaved impeccably in Prague this week and throughout our last two seasons in European competition.”
The membership stated it could work with police to overview the incident and take motion in opposition to offenders, together with implementing lifetime bans.