Daily WHUFC News - 17th March 2018

I'm happy to be here and play for West Ham – Arnautovic
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic has vowed to do everything he can for West Ham United and
the supporters who have come to adore him. After a tough start, the Austrian
has become a hero among the Claret and Blue Army for his outstanding
displays, never-say-die attitude and clear affection for the fans. With the
Hammers set to return home from a five day training camp in Miami on
Saturday, Arnautovic restated his love for those in the stands, and for the
Club as a whole. "I'm happy. I'm happy, I've said this a couple of times
already," he said. "I'm happy to be here and I'm happy to play for this
Club, with my teammates and for those fans. But it doesn't matter how I feel
now. I want the team as one unit and we're going to fight in these last
eight games."

After a run of 20 points from 12 games, West Ham have lost each of their
last three Premier League matches by a combined score off 11-1 to drop to
within three points of the relegation zone. Marko Arnautovic handed his
boots to a young fan after Saturday's defeat by Burnley Following last
Saturday's 3-0 home defeat by Burnley, Arnautovic stood in the pitch, head
bowed, in disappointment and frustration, before collecting his thoughts and
handing his boots to a young fan as the crowd sang his name. That bond, he
says, will be even more important when West Ham return to action at home to
Southampton on 31 March. "The fans are always important. I know they are
disappointed, but I also know that against Southampton the Stadium is going
to be full and they are going to be right behind us. We need them, because
without them, you are not much in football without fans. "I have a good
connection with them [the fans] and even when they boo us, it doesn't
matter, I will always be behind them and I will always love when they
support us. Still those people were with us until the end. I was applauding
them because they deserved it, even in this hard situation. "We know this is
a hard time, a tough time for them, but also for us. It's not that we don't
want to win games. We are in a hard situation but if we are all together,
work hard together, and keep the team and the fans and everyone involved
with West Ham together, then we can come out of this situation."

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Haksabanovic earns Montenegro call-up for March friendlies
WHUFC.com

Sead Haksabanovic has been named in Montenegro's squad for the upcoming
friendlies at the end of March. The 18-year-old will link up with his
international teammates for a contest with Cyprus in Nicosia on Friday 23
March before welcoming Turkey to Podgorica for a friendly fixture on Tuesday
27. The teenage midfielder played twice for Montenegro in World Cup
Qualification, making his appearances from the bench, with the most recent
coming in the away defeat to Poland. Haksabanovic and his international
teammates will not be at the tournament in Russia this summer after they
finished third in Group E of the UEFA qualifying groups, but the youngster
will be looking to stake his claim to a regular place in the Montenegro
starting line-up. The summer signing has made 12 appearance for the U23s
side this season and has played twice for the senior team - featuring in the
Carabao Cup win over Bolton Wanderers and also making an appearance in the
FA Cup clash with Wigan Athletic. Haksabanovic has also been on the bench
for six Premier League matches this campaign, but is yet to make his top
flight debut for the Hammers.

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Ray: 'Shared responsibility' key to winning Portsmouth test
WHUFC.com

A strong sense of 'shared responsibility and accountability' will be crucial
if West Ham United Ladies are to beat Portsmouth this weekend, according to
interim head coach Karen Ray. The Ladies head into Sunday's match in good
form, with the side unbeaten in their last eight matches across all
competitions and having conceded just twice in 2018. The team will take on
a stern test in Portsmouth FC Ladies, however, with this weekend's opponents
sitting fifth in the Premier League Southern Division, having claimed
back-to-back away wins in their previous two contests. Ray recognises the
threat Portsmouth pose to her side's unbeaten streak and feels the team
needs to continue to share culpability, something she feels has been vital
in the previous wins. "Portsmouth will certainly be a team to respect," Ray
told whufc.com: "Jay is a good coach, who has been having a successful
season and we will have to be at our best to get a result. "Having Neo, our
analyst, really helps us understand our opponents. We work together to
nullify our oppositions strengths and exploit their weaknesses while staying
true to our new-found identity. "The key for us has been shared
responsibility and accountability. Everyone now knows what needs to be done
to get the results. We all value each other's differences, the diversity
within our team creates a higher level of understanding and creativity which
allows us to all trust the process."

The Hammers suffered a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture against Portsmouth
in September, and while the Irons have added to the squad since that game,
Ray feels a clear philosophy has led to the team's improvements since then.
She continued: "We have made a couple of signings since the previous meeting
with Portsmouth, but ultimately I think the identity the team has gained has
been the biggest factor. We have instilled a style of play that supports
very talented individuals in contributing to the team. "Everyone is
passionate about performing well and winning games, our mentality shift has
been key to our newfound success and we all have plans to continue."

With just five games left in the league this campaign, plus two Cup finals,
Ray is thrilled with the progress she has seen from West Ham in 2018 and has
called on the players to continue to raise their standards between now and
the end of the season. "When I was asked to step in for the interim, my
ambition was to support the girls in earning the respect they truly
deserve," Ray added: "I think they are doing so. However, there is no reason
why we can't continue to set our sights higher. "We have an extremely
talented, competitive and brave group of players - the perfect mix for
success. The staff and I certainly won't let standards slip as we raise the
bar higher every time we cross the white line. It's a professional,
demanding and challenging environment that is driving our positive results
and I don't often say it but I am extremely proud of everyone."

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Barrett: Upbeat U18s are focused on Aston Villa clash
WHUFC.com

Returning defender Mason Barrett says the improvement in form for the West
Ham United U18s has led to a boost in atmosphere in the changing room, with
the entire squad focused on Saturday's match with Aston Villa. The Irons
head into this weekend's contest at Little Heath Sports Ground on the back
of three straight wins, and take on a Villa side that sit just two points
above them in the league. Barrett says the side recognises that this season
hasn't been the best for the young Hammers but insists the team have learned
from past mistakes, and are now a closer group because of it. And the
youngster is ready for the challenge Villa will poise. "As a team, we have
to be brutally honest and say we haven't had the best of seasons," Barrett
admitted to whufc.com. "But I feel we have learned a lot from that. We've
taken the things that we've not done well, looked on how to fix them, and
how to improve. "Our recent form has been really good and has definitely
changed the mood in the dressing room. You can tell now, before matches,
that everyone is more relaxed but also really switched on and focused at the
same time. It will be the same for Aston Villa. "The team is a lot more
upbeat and really enjoying playing together and winning games. I really feel
we have grown closer as a team in the last few weeks."

West Ham's resurgence in form coincides with Barrett's return to the team,
with the 18-year-old spending 14 months on the sidelines with stress-related
problems in both of his shins. Barrett is thrilled to be involved again and
reckons his injury experience will only make him a stronger player in the
long run. He continued: "It's a great feeling to be back and winning games.
I'm just happy to be playing again but our recent good form has been a real
confidence boost for both myself and the team. "I was buzzing to just get on
the field in general, to be fair. It was hard to be out for so long so to
just be involved again is unreal. "My injury, in a way, has just helped me
become even more hungry and now I'm back, I just want to achieve my dream of
being a professional football player even more. Right now, I'm just focused
on getting minutes under my belt, playing consistently well and seeing out
the season in the best way possible."

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Trott named in England U20s squad
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U23s' goalkeeper Nathan Trott has been named in the England
U20s squad for the upcoming matches with Poland and Portugal. Trott has
been in fine form this season for the West Ham Premier League 2 side and
made his England U20s debut last August in a 3-0 win over the Netherlands.
The shot-stopper was also between the sticks for the 4-0 victory against the
Czech Republic in October. The UEFA European U19 Championship winner has
once again been included, as one of two goalkeepers in head coach Keith
Downing's 19-man squad. The Three Lions will take on Poland in
Bielsku-Bialej on Thursday 22 March before returning to Manchester City's
Academy Stadium for a fixture against Portugal on Tuesday 27. Trott has
made 19 appearances in all competitions for the West Ham United U23s this
campaign, and was also on the bench for the first team's Premier League
match with Manchester City in December.

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Mario named in Portuguese 25
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2018
By: Staff Writer

Joao Mario has been named in the Portugal squad to face the Netherlands in a
pre World Cup friendly later this month. The 25-year-old midfielder, who is
currently on loan at West Ham has been included in Fernando Manuel Costa's
squad to face Egypt (March 23) and Holland (26 March) in two friendlies
ahead of this summer's World Cup finals in Russia. Mario, who debuted for
his country back in 2014 having made an incredible 82 appearances at youth
level has made a total of seven full international appearances for Portugal.
The full Portuguese squad includes six UK-based players, four from the
Premier League, one from the Championship and one from the Scottish Premer
League. Former Hammers Jose Fonte, who recently joined Chinese Super League
side Dalian Yifang has also been included in Costa's latest selection.
Portugal have been grouped with Spain, Iran and Morocco in their World Cup
group.

Full Portugal Squad

Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Beto (Goztepe) and Rui Patrício
(Sporting).

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Rangers), Cédric Soares (Southampton), Fábio
Coentrão (Sporting), João Cancelo (Inter), José Fonte (Dalian Yifang),
Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund), Rolando (Marselha) and Rúben Dias (Benfica).

Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Leicester), André Gomes (FC Barcelona), Bruno
Fernandes (Sporting), João Mário (West Ham), João Moutinho (Monaco), Manuel
Fernandes (Lokomotiv), Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton) and William Carvalho
(Sporting ).

Forwards: André Silva (AC Milan), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City),
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Gonçalo Guedes
(Valência) and Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas).

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Arnautovic grateful for fans' support
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2018
By: Staff Writer

Marko Arnautovic says he is delighted to have built a rapport with the West
Ham fans since moving from Stoke City.

The 28-year-old Austrian, currently in Miami with the rest of the first team
squad is rapidly becoming a crowd favourite and has been tipped by many as a
potential KUMB Player of the Year, following a decent start to his career in
east London.

And the winger, who is settling down into life in London with wife Sarah
following a £24million move from Stoke City last summer says the welcome he
has received from the fans has helped create a special bond between the two.

"The fans are always important," he told whufc.com. "I know they are
disappointed [with our recent form], but I also know that against
Southampton the stadium is going to be full and they are going to be right
behind us.

"We need them, because without the fans you are not much in football. I have
a good connection with them and even when they boo us, it doesn't matter. I
will always be behind them and I will always love when they support us.

"We know this is a hard time, a tough time for them, but also for us. We are
in a hard situation but if we are all together, work hard together, and keep
the team and the fans and everyone involved with West Ham together, then we
can come out of this situation."

Arnautovic, West Ham's leading goalscorer this season with seven to his name
(all scored in the Premier League) is set to appear next for his nation when
they face Slovenia (23 March) and Luxembourg (27 March) in international
friendlies.

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Solidarity is key, says Parish
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2018
By: Staff Writer

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has sympathised with West Ham
supporters with regards to their current plight - whilst defending co-owners
David Sullivan and David Gold. Parish, whose Palace side are currently three
points and two places below West Ham in the Premier League table was
speaking in the wake of the disturbances that highlighted the supporters'
dissatisfaction with the way the club is currently being managed. And
despite his side sitting in the relegation zone with just nine matches left
to play, Parish stressed that he wouldn't change places with the Hammers. "I
do not wish what happened at West Ham on anyone," he told the Croydon
Advertiser. "I do not look at that and think 'that is great for us at
Palace'. "I know David Sullivan and David Gold. I know those guys have got
their heart and soul in that club. None of us are going to get this right,
everything we do at a football club. It is impossible, but everyone knows
the team you should have picked at 4.45pm on Saturday! It is easy to
criticise. "I know it is difficult for supporters to stay calm in that
moment. We have all had it after a game when we are getting beat. It is not
a nice experience and I think you can make your feelings known without
stepping over the line. I was disappointed to see that.
"But I know that club is a great club and have got great supporters. And I
know they will all rally round as well. When push comes to shove they will
all be there for the team. They will. They made their feelings known and
hopefully they have put that behind them."

Parish, who has been involved at Selhurst Park since 2012 also urged Hammers
fans to keep the current situation in "perspective" - no doubt a reminder
that the fans can still play a major role in their team's fortunes. "Three
teams have got to get relegated, and everyone is trying as hard as they can
to stay in the league," he added. "Things do not go wrong on purpose. I
understand people get angry, but I think we have got to keep some
perspective."

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Journalist defends 'co-ordinated attack' accusation
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2018
By: Staff Writer

A BBC journalist has claimed that more than 20 attempts to enter the field
of play during Saturday's 3-0 defeat against Burnley were thwarted by
stadium security.
According to writer Simon Stone, who was sharing his thoughts via twitter,
"stewards repelled 85% of the attempts" by supporters to get on to the
pitch, before adding that the incidents weren't "spontaneous" but "planned",
involving "in excess of 100 people" and "co-ordinated through mobile
phones". Given that only four supporters managed to enter the field of play,
that would mean approximately 27 people in total tried to encroach onto the
pitch. And, as anyone who had attended the stadium since West Ham moved to
Stratford in 2016 will attest, it is virtually impossible to get a phone
signal inside the ground - let alone coordinate a protest campaign involving
more than 100. Naturally, those figures and explanations left many who were
actually present at the match questioning Stone's logic and information.
Consequently a number of West Ham supporters challenged the authenticity of
his comments, urging the journalist to check his sources or remove his
tweet. However Mr Stone refused to bow to pressure and instead defended his
version of events via a series of additional posts.

"I did not make it up. Info came via credible source," he replied. "I had no
reason to think it was incorrect. Secondly, there is official statement for
Safety Advisory Group - which had the power to close stadium. "[They] said
there was 'unprecedented level of disorder at multiple locations across
stadium, would have been almost impossible for any security team to manage'
+ security op was 'stretched significantly by scale + volume of incidents'
but most attempted pitch incursions were stopped. "All I did was try find
out what the 'unprecedented level of disorder' was. What I reported was what
I was told by someone who is in a position to know and stands by info. Re
mobile signal issue - which I accept - told major use was outside ground
before game to get people in. "Those who think [the] SAG statement is false
are entitled to that view. But it is an official statement and all those
present agreed with its release. CCTV evidence has been passed to police."

Following Stone's comments, several supporters have written to the BBC to
complain.

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GUEST POST: WE CAN NO LONGER BEG TO DIFFER OR ENGAGE IN A CIVIL MANNER. WHY?
By Iain Dale 16 Mar 2018 at 08:00
WTID

Guest Post by Anonymous

This follows on from
"THIS2:https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2018/03/11/grown-men-behaving-l
ike-spoilt-children article from the same author on the events of last
weekend.

I just read your "piece for the
Standard"https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2018/03/13/evening-standard-c
olumn-be-careful-what-you-wish-for. You have just completely taken my head
thoughts on this. Agree with every word and nuance in its entirety. Well
done.

For the last two seasons, I witnessed two supporters who sit in front of me
whom week in week out have hurled abuse at the players sat on the subs bench
directly in front of us. Ayew, Carrol, Kouyate and even Antautovic have come
in for nasty stuff at different times. I have come very close to pulling
them up and telling them to shut up, but then it would kick off and just add
to the woes amongst supporters and place me at risk.

The players sit exposed within inches of some supporters who are paying 4k a
year for a seat and who have the manners of moronic pigs despite their
earning capacity. My overwhelming impression of the last two years is of
bunch of players terrified of the supporters. It reminded me of my years
coaching kids football watching parents and other coaches scream at the kids
terrifying the kids.

On a practical level the club should consider redesigning the subs seating
in order to shield players from the supporters and get their focus on the
pitch and not on what goes on in the stands. They perhaps also should start
kicking out some of these abusive fans.

I mean in what other sport or entertainment industry event is it ok to
scream 'You f***ing lazy fat worthless useless c**t!'? Apologies for
language, but this is what I hear week in week out, with many children
present too. Whenever I have made comment on this I am dismissed with 'Oh
it's just banter mate'.

And all this going on before the events of Saturday. Cancer starts small.

I brought up Brexit in my previous email that you posted on your WHTID. I am
not sure if you read some of the replies on the WHTID forum, but some picked
up on this and took my observations out of context in inferring I was
blaming 'Brexit', identifying me as a 'Remoaner' with an ulterior motive and
therefore totally dismissing my views because of this. They wholly missed
the point.

We dropped a bomb with the EU referendum and it divided the nation, the same
has happened with West Ham and the move to the Olympic/London Stadium, we
are no longer West Ham United we are West Ham Disunited. This was the point
I was making.

This is part of a much bigger picture, we are living in a way more
aggressive abusive world than 25 years ago. The internet has also helped
fuel this as people sit anonymously behind their screen typing their bile,
something they would not do face to face, especially 25 years ago.

I have scaled down my involvement on social media to the point I am
considering pulling out completely. I talk face to face more than I have
ever done in recent years. 'Talk Don't Tweet' is now my motto. Engaging with
people in person is the medicine needed for over indulgence behind a
computer screen.

Even amongst long term friends I pick up on massive polarization and
divisive attitudes when on line/Twitter/Facebook etc. We can no longer beg
to differ or engage in a civil manner, we are either A or B, Black or White,
Gay or Straight, Left or Right, Fascist or Socialist, Tory or Labour or of
course a Brexiteer or Remoaner. Everything now has a label. It feels that
most people have forgotten that we are all humans with a limited shelf life.
We simply need to talk face to face and rediscover the art of real
communication and accept that we have different views. This world would be
better for it. Of course, this is me being idealistic.

I do not know the answer to all this hostility and division, there probably
isn't one, I try not to get cynical about mankind, but it is very
challenging not to just shut the door and stay indoors for the rest of one's
days. I fear for the future of my children and eventual grandchildren. The
world has become a worrying place in recent times.

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This must stop
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th March 2018
By: Connor Darrell

I am an American. I have no familial ties to the East End, and I have only
been to one West Ham United match in my entire life (a 0-0 draw with Stoke
during the final season at the Boleyn). So I forgive you if you decide to
read no further or question the value of my opinion as an outsider.

But I can assure you that I love this club with a fervent passion. Though
there are days where I ask myself why I didn't just follow Manchester United
or Chelsea like every other fairweather American fan, it is too late now. I
bleed claret and blue.

What follows is a somewhat incoherent collection of thoughts running through
my mind. I have never written any journalistic pieces before, and may never
do so again. But it was somewhat therapeutic for me to do this, and I hope
at least some of you agree with me.

I sat down to write this piece shortly after the final whistle of what could
only be described as a nightmarish and embarrassing loss to Burnley.
Nightmarish not because of the result, but because of the reality it left us
in. Embarrassing not because of what transpired on the pitch, but off of it.


As someone forced to follow the club from 3,500 miles away, it is a bit
difficult for me to gain a full understanding of how we have arrived at this
perilous state.

I think back to that magical final season at the Boleyn, and the optimism I
was filled with. Dimitri Payet was one of the best players in the world, and
while understandably emotional, a pending move to a larger stadium seemed a
reasonable proposition for a club looking to take the next step required to
compete on the world's biggest stage. I couldn't wait to embark on that
journey.

I was drinking the kool-aid.

What's transpired since has been very difficult for me to grasp. Sure, the
board carries the bulk of the blame. The move was clumsily administrated,
empty promises were made, and the final product has been nothing short of
dreadful. But I can't help but think that the unrest among the fan base has
also contributed significantly to our inability to seize opportunity, and
what I witnessed today on my television screen cemented that belief in my
mind.

After 60 minutes of outplaying the opposition, a cheap goal was conceded,
and we allowed Ashley Barnes - Ashley FREAKING Barnes - of all people to put
the final dagger into the soul of this club.

At one goal down, an objective spectator might have reasonably backed West
Ham to still nick at least a point from this match, but those spectators in
attendance who felt the need to take it upon themselves to storm the field
and direct frustration at the board made it certain that wouldn't be the
case. At the very moment the players needed the backing of the club's
supporters, those same supporters abandoned them. There was no coming back.

I truly believe that the time has come for us supporters to look in the
mirror and objectively ask ourselves if we truly believe we are acting in
the club's best interest by franticly rebelling against the board.

One of the most frequently cited knocks on Sullivan and Co. has been the
ineptitude with which they conduct themselves in the transfer market. The
long track record of incompetence is there, and nobody can rationally argue
that the club hasn't been handcuffed by poor personnel and player
recruitment. But the argument that the board has refused to make the
necessary investments in the squad since the move to the London Stadium has
some holes in it.

Given the strife and infighting amongst the club and supporters - and
amongst the supporters themselves - perhaps nobody could have navigated the
tricky negotiations needed to bring in players of the necessary quality.

Ask yourselves this, if you were a young promising player sitting in your
living room with your family and your agent, trying to decide what move
might help you propel your career to the next level, where might West Ham
rank on your list of destinations? My guess is that it would be very close
to the bottom. And part of that is due to the behaviour of supporters on
days like today.

I am not defending the board. They are arrogant, incompetent, and incapable
of objective self evaluation. If the club is going to truly move forward,
they must go. But they won't, and we need to acknowledge that reality.

At this stage, the most important thing is survival, and in order to survive
we must put the anti-board sentiment aside and focus on supporting the
players. After all, they are the only ones with direct control over the fate
of this season. We must do everything we can to support them.

In an age where money is everything, the potential perils of relegation are
far too large. We must swallow our pride, put the anti-board protests aside
for the time being, and focus our energy on positive support for the players
in the dressing room. There are points to be gained in the remaining
fixtures. We all have to do our part.

And when I say "we", I of course really mean all of you who have the luxury
of attending matches. There's nothing I can do from my living room in
Pennsylvania but clench my teeth and nervously shout at the television
screen.

Please heed my call, I would really like to avoid suffering through more
seasons in the Championship, where I must listen to audio-only broadcasts of
trips to Barnsley, Preston, or Reading.

Come on you Irons.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be
attributed to, KUMB.com.

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SEAGULLS HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR WORTHWHILE CAUSE
Brightonandhovealbion.com
Alex Stedman

Jose Izquierdo's goal against West Ham in the 3-1 victory at the Amex
Stadium back in February will live long in the memory for a number of
supporters. But Robin Woolley, a Seagulls fan based in Newcastle, will have
a constant reminder in his home after he won an online auction for a signed
match-worn shirt from the Seagulls wide man, in aid of young Irons fan Isla
Caton, who suffers from a rare childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. He
said, "I'm delighted, it was a shirt I had to have because I was at the game
and saw the goal itself – but more importantly it's money that I've bid for
a very worthwhile cause. "I have a daughter who's Isla's age so I thought
that if I was ever in that situation I'd want people to help me and the
family out as well. "Nobody would wish that on anyone, so I would hope
people would also put their hands in their pockets."

A video message from the Colombian midfielder was widely shared across
social media and well-received by a collection of supporters from different
clubs – Robin emphasised the response to the clip as being the perfect
example of the power of football. "The response that the family have got
definitely shows how influential the sport can be. "You put rivalries aside,
there's a lot of Millwall fans online who are giving their support to the
cause and I believe someone is running an event in a West Ham shirt as well,
so that tells you all you need to know. "When you think of the bad publicity
around those rivalries it goes out of the window with something like this.
"I saw the link on Twitter and the video as well and thought I have to have
that for such a great cause – the plan is to have it framed and up on the
wall in the house, it'll take pride of place."

The spectacular effort at the start of last month kick-started a good run of
form in the top flight which currently sees Albion sitting in 11th position
going into Saturday's Emirates FA Cup tie with Manchester United at Old
Trafford. Robin was invited down to the American Express Elite Football
Performance Centre on Thursday, as Chris Hughton met the media ahead of the
last eight cup tie in the historic competition. "It's the best goal I've
seen at the stadium – I've had a bit of journey down because I live up near
Newcastle, but I was able to have a look around the training ground and see
my first-ever press conference too. "To top it off, I got the shirt from
Jose in person as well so it's been great. "It was really interesting to see
how the press conference works – I was tempted to stick my hand up but
someone got in ahead of me with what I was going to ask!"

Fans can donate to Isla's Just Giving Page - set up in order to raise funds
to get Isla vital treatment, by clicking here.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/thebradleyloweryfoundation/isla
caton

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West Ham face behind closed doors fixtures if London Stadium crowd trouble
persists
KEN DYER
ES Sport

West Ham have been warned any repeat of crowd trouble will result in part or
all of the London Stadium being shut to fans for future matches. A number of
spectators invaded the pitch during last Saturday's match against Burnley
and several hundred fans congregated in front of the directors' box in an
ugly demonstration of their dissatisfaction at the club's board. Following a
meeting yesterday of the Safety Advisory Group, which included the stadium
operators, LS185, Newham council, the Metropolitan Police, the London Legacy
Development Corporation and the club, it was agreed there will be police
inside the stadium for the next home match, against Southampton on March
31.There will also be restrictions to the area in front of the directors'
box, a review of where fans can go and the stewards' response teams will be
bolstered. The cost of the increased police presence is expected to be met
by the stadium owners and operators, even though West Ham had looked at
paying in a bid to get more control over security. The SAG warned West Ham
that the remaining five home matches will be closely monitored and if there
is any repeat of the disorder, further action would be taken by Newham
council in its safety certifying role, including reducing capacity or
playing matches behind closed doors.

The Football Association are investigating the trouble and also have the
power to order a partial or full closure of the stadium. However, as steps
are being taken to tackle the issue ahead of the Southampton game, the FA
could give West Ham a heavy fine, with the stadium penalty more likely if
there is a repeat of the chaos.
In a statement, the SAG said: "LS185 and West Ham United have made great
strides in identifying the trouble-makers and have been very clear that
those guilty of violent or aggravating conduct will be banned from the
stadium."

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