2009 Upton Park riot

Football riot in London, England April 2022 2009 Upton Park riot Boleyn Ground Upton Park 1.jpg The Boleyn Ground, where the disturbances took place 25 August 2009 Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, East London Pitch invasions, violent civil disorder Inter City FirmSupporters of West Ham United F.C. Millwall BushwackersSupporters of Millwall F.C. 1 (stabbed) 20 others injured The 2009 Upton Park riot occurred in and around West Ham United's Boleyn Ground, in Upton Park before, during and after a Football League Cup second round match between West Ham and Millwall on 25 August 2009. The match was won by the home side 3–1 after extra time,http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3182346,00.html West Ham v Millwall - 25 August 2009 Sky Sports British Sky Broadcasting 25 August 2009 26 August 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090827175823/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0%2C19764%2C11065_3182346%2C00.html 27 August 2009 but the game was marred by pitch invasions and disorder in the streets outside the ground, where a Millwall supporterhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8225698.stm Football stab man 'tried to flee' BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 28 August 2009 28 August 2009 was stabbed.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8221451.stm Mass violence mars London derby BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 25 August 2009 26 August 2009 The disturbances were met with condemnation by the Football Association, the British government and the two clubs involved.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8222301.stm Violence 'a disgrace to football' BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 26 August 2009 26 August 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/8221590.stm FA to probe Upton Park violence BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 26 August 2009 26 August 2009Ken Dyer https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-vow-to-hunt-down-thugs-as-gianfranco-zola-reveals-his-despair-6782886.html West Ham vow to hunt down thugs as Gianfranco Zola reveals his despair Evening Standard 26 August 2009 26 August 2009 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090827203049/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23736819-details/West%2BHam%2Bvow%2Bto%2Bhunt%2Bdown%2Bthugs%2Bas%2BGianfranco%2BZola%2Breveals%2Bhis%2Bdespair/article.do 27 August 2009 The incident led to fears of a return of the hooliganism that had tarnished the reputation of English football in the 1970s and 80s.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8222857.stm Hooliganism rears its ugly head BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 26 August 2009 Andy McFarlane 26 August 2009 There were also concerns that it could have a negative effect on England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup - which was rejected in favour of the bid from Russia more than a year later.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8222478.stm 2018 bid team condemns violence BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation 26 August 2009 26 August 2009 Background Millwall F.C.–West Ham United F.C. rivalry Millwall and West Ham United have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the clubs' first meeting, a friendly on 23 September 1897. The rivalry stems from the two clubs geographical proximity to one another – their home grounds at the time, The Den and the Boleyn Ground, were 6.8 mi km apart – and over the years, there have been several instances of violence between some fans of the two clubs. These occurrences had subsided in recent years as the clubs have played in different divisions for most of the time since the 1950s. West Ham, for instance, have been members of the top flight for all but a few seasons since 1958, whereas Millwall only played in the top flight for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 and have at times competed in the third and even fourth tiers of the English league. Prior to the match, there had been 96 encounters between Millwall and West Ham, of which Millwall had won 38, West Ham 32, and 26 were drawn. The previous tie was a Football League Championship game played on 16 April 2005 at the Boleyn Ground, which ended 1–1.West Ham 1-1 Millwall https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4427947.stm BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation 16 April 2005 26 August 2009 Hooliganism was rife at most English football grounds in the 1970s and 80s, and many clubs were forced into installing fencing around the perimeter of the pitch. Millwall's hooligan firm, the Millwall Bushwackers, was perceived as one of the most violent, so much so that a common weapon used in such occurrences became known as a Millwall brick. In March 1985, a large section of the club's hooligans were involved in a riot with Luton Town's firm the MIGs; of the 31 men arrested, many were found to be supporters of other London clubs such as West Ham and Chelsea. West Ham United have also been in receipt of bad publicity for their Inter City Firm, which received international notoriety after the release of the 1989 film The Firm and the 2005 film Green Street. The draw for the second round of the 2009–10 Football League Cup took place on 12 August 2009, and paired West Ham and Millwall together for their first ever League Cup meeting.Carling Cup second-round draw https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/8198604.stm BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation 12 August 2009 12 August 2009 The police cut the number of tickets given to travelling Millwall fans from 3,000 to 1,500, sparking anger among supporters; Millwall warned police of a higher probability of trouble because of this.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/05/west-ham-millwall-fa-hearing West Ham and Millwall mount defence over Carling Cup violence The Guardian London 5 January 2010 19 July 2010 Owen Gibsonhttp://www.wharf.co.uk/2009/08/millwall-angered-by-carling-cu.html Millwall angered by Carling Cup ticket decision The Wharf London 20 August 2009 30 July 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111003145800/http://www.wharf.co.uk/2009/08/millwall-angered-by-carling-cu.html October 3, 2011 Match Summary Beset by injuries, Millwall could only name four substitutes for the game. They took the lead through long-serving striker Neil Harris in the 26th minute of the match, firing past goalkeeper Robert Green after the West Ham defenders had failed to clear a long throw-in from Scott Barron. The Lions held the lead until three minutes from full-time, when Junior Stanislas equalised for West Ham. Stanislas' goal sparked a pitch invasion, and although players pleaded with the home fans to return to the stands, the resumption of the match was still delayed by several minutes. With the score at 1–1, the match went into extra time. In the eighth minute of extra time, Millwall defender Andy Frampton was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and referee Paul Taylor awarded West Ham a penalty kick. Stanislas converted the penalty, and home fans invaded the pitch again, prompting the Millwall players to retreat to the dressing room. They eventually returned to complete the match, with Zavon Hines adding a third, making the final score 3–1 to West Ham.West Ham 3-1 Millwall (aet) https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/8205836.stm BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation 25 August 2009 31 August 2009 Details 25 August 2009 19:45 BST 2009–10 Football League Cup Second round West Ham United 3–1 yes Report Millwall Stanislas 87 98 pen.Hines 100 Harris 26 Boleyn Ground London 24,492 Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire) _greyblue_sleeve_seams 990033 990033 990033 FFFFFF 990033 West Ham United _whiteshoulders _white_right_shoulder _whitesides _whitetop 0033FF 0033FF 0033FF 0033FF 0033FF Millwall GK 1 ENG Robert GreenDF 20FRA Julien FaubertDF 4 WAL Danny Gabbidon 16DF 30ENG James TomkinsDF 18USA Jonathan SpectorMF 8 ENG Scott Parker 69MF 14CZE Radoslav Kováč 62MF 31WAL Jack Collison 115MF 35ENG Josh Payne 46FW 12ENG Carlton Cole 83 109FW 46ENG Junior StanislasSubstitutes:GK 28HUN Péter KuruczDF 15ENG Matthew Upson 109DF 19WAL James CollinsDF 33SUI Fabio DaprelàFW 24ENG Frank Nouble 62MF 34ENG Olly LeeFW 41ENG Zavon Hines 46Manager:ITA Gianfranco Zola GK 1 IRL David FordeDF 2 IRL Alan DunneDF 3 ENG Andy Frampton 6DF 16ENG Scott Barron 104DF 21ENG Jack SmithMF 11ENG Dave Martin 91MF 12ENG Chris HackettMF 22GHA Ali FuseiniMF 24SCO Marc Laird 40FW 8 ENG Gary Alexander 99FW 9 ENG Neil Harris 99Substitutes:GK 13ENG John SullivanMF 4 ENG Adam Bolder 99FW 19ENG Ashley Grimes 99FW 23WAL Jason Price 91Manager:WAL Kenny Jackett MATCH OFFICIALS Assistant referees: Mike George (Norfolk) Gavin Muge (Bedfordshire) Fourth official: Neil Hair (Cambridgeshire)MATCH RULES 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Seven named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions. Reaction and aftermath The violence was met by surprise and outrage from the footballing authorities and other bodies. The government's sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe commented, "We have made great progress in tackling hooliganism in this country and will not return to the dark days of the 80s." He called the incidents "a disgrace to football" and also said that any culprits should be banned from football for life. Justice secretary Jack Straw said that "strong measures" needed to be taken to prevent a repeat of the disorder. Home secretary Alan Johnson added, "Anyone who thinks thuggery has a place in modern-day football is living in the dark ages, and will bring only shame upon the teams they support." The shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt commented that "Wider questions need to be answered as to how the situation was allowed to get out of hand in the first place." One West Ham fan was seen carrying a young child on their shoulders as they joined the pitch invasion. A youth worker called this "sickening... The message it is sending is very disturbing" and added that "Running onto the pitch with a young child on your shoulders is not an example to set to young people."https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8222700.stm Pitch invader carried young child BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 26 August 2009 31 August 2009 The Football Association said that the fan should receive a lifetime ban. Harry Redknapp, a former West Ham manager, advised the football authorities never to allow West Ham United and Millwall to play each other in a Cup game again.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/west-ham/6097814/West-Ham-and-Millwall-should-never-play-again-says-Harry-Redknapp.html West Ham and Millwall should never play again, says Harry Redknapp www.telegraph.co.uk The Metropolitan Police Service said evidence suggested that the violence was planned, but that it was an isolated incident and not a signal that the football violence seen in the 1980s was returning.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8230486.stm Fans 'planned' football violence BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 31 August 2009 31 August 2009 Gavin Lee On 28 September 2009, both West Ham and Millwall were charged by the FA with offences related to the match. Both clubs were charged with failing to ensure that their fans refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour, racist behaviour and throwing missiles, harmful or dangerous objects onto the pitch. West Ham were also charged with failing to ensure that their supporters did not enter the field of play.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/8277893.stm West Ham & Millwall charged by FA BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 28 September 2009 28 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090929231907/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/8277893.stm 29 September 2009 live In January 2010 West Ham were fined £115,000 after being found guilty of violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour and of failing to prevent their fans entering the field of play. Millwall were cleared of all charges.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/8443013.stm West Ham fined £115,000 over violence against Millwall BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 15 January 2010 2 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100117105256/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8443013.stm 17 January 2010 live In response to the violence and public order offences the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Balconi to investigate the disorder surrounding the game. Eighty people suspected of violence before and after the match were arrested.http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/football_yobs_facing_jail_1_661400 Football yobs facing jail www.newhamrecorder.co.uk 3 October 2010 23 October 2010 23 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110723103528/http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/football_yobs_facing_jail_1_661400 dead As a result, Inner London Crown Court convicted several West Ham fans of violent disorder, passing prison sentences, including one of 20 months, along with many football banning orders — barring individuals from all football grounds — being imposed. West Ham banned at least 54 people for life from Upton Park including 11 season ticket holders.https://www.whufc.com/articles/20100407/millwall-an-update_2236884_2008637 Millwall: An update www.whufc.com 7 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100505062739/https://www.whufc.com/articles/20100407/millwall-an-update_2236884_2008637 23 October 2010 2010-05-05 Since the riot, the two teams have played two Football League Championship games against other in the 2011–12 season. The Metropolitan Police implemented London-wide operations to ensure that the games passed by without any incident, and no further trouble was reported.http://www.wharf.co.uk/2011/09/london-wide-policing-for-millw.html https://archive.today/20131121041046/http://www.wharf.co.uk/2011/09/london-wide-policing-for-millw.html dead 21 November 2013 London-wide policing for Millwall v West Ham clash The Wharf London 15 September 2011 21 November 2013 References General https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olliewilliams/2009/08/how_violent_your_teams_fans_ar.shtml Crowd trouble club-by-club BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation Ollie Williams 26 August 2009 26 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091002080530/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olliewilliams/2009/08/how_violent_your_teams_fans_ar.shtml 2 October 2009 live Specific Category:2000s crimes in London Category:2009–10 in English men's football cups Category:EFL Cup seasons Category:Association football riots Category:2009 riots Category:Football hooliganism in the United Kingdom West Ham United 2009 Millwall 2009 Category:2009 in sport in London Category:21st-century riots in London Category:EFL Cup matches Category:Sport in the London Borough of Newham Category:Football matches in London