West Ham should play home games behind closed doors, says influential MP
But London Stadium officials STILL deny there are safety issues at the Hammers' new home
WEST HAM are facing calls for home games to be played behind closed doors after the disgraceful scenes of violence in their 2-1 EFL Cup win over Chelsea.
Trouble has broken out in or around the London Stadium at the majority of the Hammers' home games this season, and the vice-chairman of the influential all-party parliamentary football group believes the club should face serious action.
Mark Field MP said: "None of these problems were unforeseeable given the nature of the stadium and difficulties with policing large footballing crowds.
The Tory added: “There have been some clear failings and they now need to move with urgency to deliver a plan about segregation and broader public order issues.
“If there is a repeat of the violence, the next two or three home games for West Ham should be played behind closed doors.”
Meanwhile Sports Minister Tracey Crouch insists anyone associated with the violence must be banned for life.
She told the Evening Standard: “Football and the authorities have worked extremely hard to tackle this type of behaviour over the last 30 years and as a consequence football has become a better more welcoming environment for a wider fan base.
“No-one wants to see a return to the dark days of the late 70s and 80s.
"It is completely right that strong action is taken and that anyone involved in last night’s trouble is banned for life.”
Horrific images from the London Stadium showed a Chelsea fan with his head split open by a missile, and chairs ripped out and hurled over segregation.
Another visiting Blues fan picked up 7 coins which were thrown at him and his 8-year-old daughter.
He said: "We've never been hit by coins before - to be hit by seven of them in one evening, that's why we've kept them. We want to take this matter further."
Incredibly, London Stadium officials earlier this week 'categorically' denied there are any issues or safety problems at the ground.
The Hammers pay just £2.5m per year in rent at the former Olympic venue but are now set to face demands to chip in more towards stewarding costs, according to the Evening Standard.