WEST HAM ISSUE LIFE BAN TO MAN UTD ATTACKERS

English Premier League side, West Ham United, is placing a life ban on the attackers of Manchester United.

The Hammers will issue life bans to fans found responsible for attacking the Manchester United team coach before Tuesday’s game at Upton Park as a window on the bus was smashed and the kick-off delayed by 45 minutes as a result of the trouble. The Football Association also condemned the “unsavoury incidents.”

The club, via a statement, said:

“We are aware that there were some supporters outside the Boleyn Ground who didn’t act in an appropriate way.

“We will work closely with both clubs and the Metropolitan Police to fully investigate these matters.

“It was an extraordinary night full of extraordinary moments in front of extraordinary fans, 99% of whom behaved impeccably and were a credit to the club.

“We have already had thousands of tweets and emails from fans to say how proud they were to be a part of such a special evening in West Ham’s history.”

Bottles were also thrown at Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea during the match, while another fan invaded the pitch to confront the Spaniard. West Ham eventually won 3-2 in what was their final game at the ground before moving to the Olympic Stadium.

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal, whose side missed a chance to move up into fourth in the table, added: “I think the images shall tell everything.”

Van Gaal claimed the Manchester United coach was only 100 yards behind the bus taking the West Ham players to the ground when the Co-chair of West Hammers blamed it on the busy day and even Man Utd for not getting to the venue earlier. However, the Dutchman refused to blame his side’s defeat on the incident.

“It will have an influence, but I don’t think we have to look for excuses,” he said.

“We chased the match in the second half and 20 minutes before full-time we are ahead, so I don’t think you have to look for that excuse.”