Masked rioters in the block
England professionals fight with Ultras
05/19/2023 3:57 p.m
Attacks erupt at AZ Alkmaar stadium after West Ham United reached the Conference League final. Masked hooligans storm the block with the families of English soccer professionals. They then defend themselves.
After reaching the final of the Conference League, players from English football club West Ham United got into a scuffle with supporters of defeated opponents AZ Alkmaar. British media reported after the 1-0 (0-0) in Alkmaar on Thursday evening that supporters of the Dutch hosts tried to get into an area for families and friends of West Ham professionals – and thus provoked trouble.
On the Internet circulating Cell Phone Videos you can see hooded rioters knocking over a barrier. Also seen is West Ham professional Lucas Paqueta punching at a person wearing a blue vest with an English flag and the words ‘Police’ on it.
“I can’t explain what happened and why it happened,” said West Ham manager David Moyes. “All I can say is that our players were involved because it was the family block and most of their family and friends were there. That was probably what caused the reaction.” There has been no official reaction from the Dutch club so far.
Citing a police statement, the BBC reported that police are investigating footage of the incidents but have made no arrests. “Our aim was to disperse the crowd and restore order as quickly as possible, which we succeeded in doing,” the BBC quoted as saying in a statement. And further: “Together with the AZ, the municipality of Alkmaar and the public prosecutor’s office, we will evaluate the incidents of the past night, which we regret.”
The English side now meet Italian top-flight club Fiorentina in the final of the competition on June 7 in Prague. In the semi-final second leg against Alkmaar, Pablo Fornals scored the goal for West Ham in the fourth minute of added time. “We hope everyone is fine and that the police can do their job and find out who did it,” the midfielder said of the attacks. Coach Moyes’ football team had already won the first leg 2-1 against the Dutch.