West Ham and Fiorentina have been charged by UEFA for incidents around their Europa Conference League final in Prague. The Serie A team is charged with hurling things and igniting fireworks, while the Hammers have been accused of entering the pitch and throwing objects. In line with Article 55 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations, disciplinary actions have been taken. The match was stopped after Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biragi began bleeding from the head after being struck by a cup. At the Eden Arena in Prague, plastic pint glasses were thrown all through the first half from the West Ham end. when a half-hour, play was ultimately stopped by referee Carlos del Cerro Grande when Fiorentina captain Biraghi was struck by another item as he prepared to take a corner.
Biraghi needed medical attention and a bandage for a gash on the back of his skull. Play ultimately resumed with the score still 0-0, and after a message over the PA system urging fans to respect the players and avoid throwing objects onto the pitch, West Ham went on to win 2-1 due to a late goal from Jarrod Bowen. The fans who flung items onto the pitch during Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final in Prague were condemned by West Ham in a statement.
“The actions of a few people who hurled items onto the pitch at tonight’s UEFA Europa Conference League final are categorically condemned by West Ham United,” the club said in a statement. “The vast majority of our fans, who have behaved admirably in Prague this week and during our past two seasons in European play, do not reflect our football club’s ideals and these acts have no place in sport. In order to examine the occurrences and take action against anyone found guilty of an infraction, we shall collaborate with the police and other interested parties. According to our zero-tolerance policy, anybody detected will have their information submitted to the authorities and get an indefinite ban, making it impossible for them to travel with the club or access London Stadium. At West Ham United, this sort of conduct is not acceptable.”
After fighting broke out in the city centre before the game earlier on Wednesday, police in Prague detained more than 30 individuals. It’s believed that a group of West Ham supporters were enjoying some drinks at a pub in the city’s downtown when they were attacked by many males who were all wearing black. As more West Ham fans showed up, riot police intervened to keep the opposing factions apart. Three individuals were hurt, and one police officer was also attacked, according to Czech police.
“Injuring three, Fiorentina supporters assaulted West Ham supporters in a Rytirska Street pub. Also attacked was a police officer,” the Czech Police said in a statement. “16 persons have had their personal freedoms curtailed, and the situation as a whole is being investigated.”
The final between West Ham and Fiorentina began at 9 p.m. local time at Slavia Prague’s Eden Arena, drawing some 20,000 West Ham supporters to Prague, the majority without tickets. When home fans tried to attack a number of the players’ relatives and friends in one of the major stands, it tarnished the finish of West Ham’s semi-final second-leg victory over AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.
“There were five to ten Italian men crossing the street with firearms,” an eyewitness said. “They were fighting, there were several fireworks going off, and there was a tonne of broken glass. There were just two or three injuries among English nationals.”
Broken glass and a burnt-out chair were lying about outside the Tek’ila Tek’ila pub in the heart of the city. A West Ham supporter who wished to remain unnamed said that “a large group” of Italian supporters attacked the pub.
“Eight or so Italians, swinging chains and bands, passed by. A large bunch came down the road and assaulted us five minutes later,” he added. “Five people total, including three of our friends, were hurt. Our friends made up three of them. They visited a hospital.”
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