The West Ham players came to a huge result on Thursday evening by reaching the final of the UEFA Conference League, but they could not celebrate it properly, as hooligans who state to represent AZ Alkmaar attacked visiting fans, including the families of the London club’s players.What took you so long, what took you six decades…Immediately after the end of the match, the angry Dutch mob ran into the section of the stand intended for the families and friends of West Ham players. Dressed in black, hooded and masked, ready to wreak havoc, they attacked the bewildered English. Seeing this, Michail Antonio and Flynn Downs were the first to come to the rescue and try to stop the general commotion in the stands. They were followed by other West Ham footballers: Said Benrahma and Lucas Paqueta, and the incident lasted until security separated the three parties.West Ham players clashing with stewards after AZ Alkmaar fans target their families in the stands after the game tonight… 😳 pic.twitter.com/bGbTsgdZyS— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) May 18, 2023 When the passions subsided, videos and photos began circulating the social networks – one even shows a West Ham fan trying to protect defender Thilo Kehrer’s girlfriend.When the drama was over, David Moyes’ men went on to celebrate a 3-1 aggregate victory over the fourth-placed team in the Dutch championship. However, after leaving the stadium, the events after the match left the strongest impression on the players.”My family was watching the game, we were worried about them because the security was too relaxed and the home fans could easily get in. Only at the end did they manage to stop them,” said Hammers’ goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.How is it possible seriously !!They attacking us, family of players and supportersThe players come with us to protect West ham – Alkmaar #COYI #AZAlkmaar pic.twitter.com/FzB1FmjSkV— 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 ⚡️ (@nathankerau) May 18, 2023 David Moyes believes that the behavior of his players is completely justified.”My players reacted because their families were threatened. I don’t want this to be a stain on our success, our fans weren’t looking for a problem. At the moment I didn’t even see what was happening because I was happy about the great success. The security wanted to take me to safety, but I had to make sure that my players were not involved,” explained the West Ham coach.The behavior of the Dutch was most likely caused by the events in London, when the family of Pascal Jensen, the coach of AZ Alkmaar, was attacked.”I am ashamed of what happened in our stadium. You have to control your emotions. A few players were worried, because their families were in the stadium, I can imagine how they felt,” Jensen sympathizes.AZ Alkmaar 🇳🇱 vs West Ham United 🏴2 West Ham fans managing to stop a mob of AZ Alkmaar fans from getting to the hospitality section where all the players families are seated.📽️ @fumanchu6666 #UECL 18.05 pic.twitter.com/6vZ1cI6UeQ— 𝕊𝕋𝔸ℕ𝔻 𝕐𝕆𝕌ℝ 𝔾ℝ𝕆𝕌ℕ𝔻 👊 (@Ultramaniatics) May 19, 2023 The punishments from UEFA will be rigorous, which is what former Hammer, Joe Cole, hopes for.”It’s absurd, madmen attack fans where our colleagues, friends and families are. They wear masks, they hit, it’s madness. UEFA and AZ Alkmaar must react. The players are worried for a reason, friends, families, children were there. Inadmissible in modern football. There are cameras in the stadium, role those back and ban the hooligans from entering the stadium for life. We wanted to bring the children to the final, now we will think carefully,” the Englishman said angrily.Hooliganism certainly has no place on the football field, especially when innocent people are exposed to danger, as this time in the Netherlands. Harsh punishments from UEFA are expected for AZ Alkmaar.UECL: Hammers’ power through to book a decisive encounter against resilient Viola##NAJAVA_MECA_7268619##
