West Ham Apologise To Man Utd After Team Bus Attacked

West Ham's co-chairman David Sullivan has apologised to Manchester United after their team bus was attacked on Tuesday night. The bus was pelted with bottles and cans as it was held up for 50 minutes around half a kilometre from the Boleyn Ground ahead of the last game at the stadium, which West Ham won 3-2.


Speaking before the extent of the trouble became apparent on Tuesday evening, Sullivan initially complained that Manchester United should have allowed more time to get to the ground, and suggested the behaviour of Hammers fans was no more than over-exuberant but on Wednesday, he said: “If we were to have scripted how our final game at the Boleyn would have played out, it wouldn't have been much different to last night's match. The West Ham family then all celebrated our legends and former players together in what was a truly fitting ceremony to say goodbye to our home of 112 years. Sadly the actions of a very small minority of people outside the ground prior to kick-off risks overshadowing those celebrations. I want to be clear - their behaviour was completely unacceptable and does not represent our club or our values. When I was asked about the incident prior to yesterday's game, I was unaware of the damage that had occurred to the Manchester United team bus. I want to apologise to Manchester United for that damage and assure them that we will be doing all we can to track down those responsible and ban them for life”.


Footage apparently taken by Manchester United player Jesse Lingard showed the players taking refuge in the aisle down the centre of the bus as bottles and cans smashed against the windows. Items were also thrown inside the stadium and the FA will look at the matter in closer detail. On the way to the ground, it was understood that the Manchester United team bus was just a couple of hundred metres behind the West Ham team coach. But around half a kilometre from the stadium, the Man Utd bus was held up for around 50 minutes by the crowds. 


A statement from the FA was released after the Premier League match, which ended in a Hammers victory after Winston Reid headed home 10 minutes from time.

It read: “The FA strongly condemns the unsavoury incidents this evening involving both the Manchester United team coach outside West Ham United's Boleyn Ground and objects thrown from a section of the home support during the game. We will work closely with both clubs and the Metropolitan Police to fully investigate these matters.


Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday morning that four officers suffered injuries during the trouble outside the ground. “No arrests have been made so far in connection with the criminal damage caused to the coach. Enquiries are ongoing. Three men were arrested during the course of the match: A 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of affray; a 47-year-old man and an 18-year-old man were arrested for pitch incursion. They have all been taken to an east London police station for questioning”.