West Ham vs Chelsea violence: Shameful scenes at the Olympic Stadium could have major repercussions for both clubs
EFL Cup tie at London stadium marred by missile throwing from rivals supporters, which could have dire consequences
IT HAD all gone so well until the final moments.
The fears of a night of chaos appeared to have been averted and, despite a few unsavoury scenes, it looked like a corner had been turned.
But a fusillade of missiles thrown between rival supporters, as the majority inside the London Stadium were celebrating a home victory, could now have serious repercussions.
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It was always going to be a tense night — the first big game at the ground, with 5,000 away fans — 2,000 more than for Premier League games — making the trip across the capital.
Plenty of home fans decided not to attend, a result of the problems that have become an increasing concern in the first few months of life after Upton Park.
And with seats being ripped out to be thrown in those late ugly scenes, it was obvious that those supporters who chose not to attend had made the right decision.
Both sets of fans were urged to travel by public transport to the ground and arrive early.
Extensive body and bag searches meant longer queues than usual but they seemed relatively good-natured.
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Before the game, at least, there was no repeat of the ugly incidents that had plagued the first few weeks of the season here.
But police — on duty in the ground for the first time — must have been nervous.
All the pubs but one in Stratford Broadway had been told to close at 7pm, 45 minutes before kick-off, which saw both sets of fans milling around.
They could not drink around the stadium, with the mobile bars that pop up on match days banned from selling alcohol.
The heavy police presence brought an edge to the night, with a helicopter making for a raucous backdrop.
Inside many of the old Upton Park stewards, who had not been on duty at earlier games, were back, while the police were there in numbers too.
Visiting fans mocked the turn-out and empty seats, singing: “Your ground’s too big for you” although Cheikhou Kouyate’s opener was the perfect response.
There were reports that 300 ticket-holding Chelsea fans had been kept outside and Blues fans in the Trevor Brooking Stand Lower accused home supporters of throwing coins when Edimilson Fernandes doubled West Ham’s lead.
Then the missile throwing started.