On Tuesday, violent fan behavior marred a Carling Cup game between West Ham and Millwall. As the home club, West Ham bears the responsibility to prove to the English Football Association that it did everything possible to prevent such violence so the club isn't forced to play closed-door games or face elimination from the competition.

Some 500 police were on duty on Tuesday night, including three times the normal number of mounted officers. The melee saw three field invasions but most of the violence occurred outside the stadium, including mass brawls that saw one man stabbed in the chest. The FA has reinforced its commitment to see all proven offenders banned from attending games for life.

West Ham administrators spent yesterday in meetings assessing CCTV footage and collecting witness statements to begin their inquiries into the incidents. "Everyone at the club is shocked and appalled at what happened and we will leave no stone unturned in identifying the perpetrators, rooting them out and then taking the proper action from both the police point of view and the club's," said the West Ham chief executive, Scott Duxbury.

 

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