Robin van Persie condemns the violence of the AZ supporters towards the friends and family of the West Ham United players, he makes clear in front of the camera of BT Sports. Along the edge of the field, the former striker, guest analyst with Joe Cole and Carlton Cole, looks back on the scandalous outcome of the semi-final of the Conference League between AZ and West Ham United (0-1).
Immediately after the match, things went wrong around the exit. Reportedly, a fanatical group of AZ hangers-on broke through the fences and family members and acquaintances of the West Ham selection were attacked. Tomás Soucek Jarrod Bowen, Declan Rice and Saïd Benrahma, among others, rushed towards the mass brawl to help. Van Persie was close to the battlefield and condemns the events.
“Pathetic” “Football should be inclusive for everyone!” Joe Cole, @CarltonCole1 and @Persie_Official react to the post-match scenes after AZ Alkmaar v West Ham… ??? @julesbreach pic.twitter.com/pTDC9CbxMx
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 18, 2023
“I do understand that the West Ham players went there to help their loved ones. Those players and families have a right to be happy and celebrate. This should not have happened. It is very unfortunate. Win and lose is part of it, but this really shouldn’t happen,” said the Dutchman. Joe Cole and Carlton Cole agree with their colleague’s words.
“It’s totally insane. Grown men, AZ supporters, attack the section where the West Ham supporters sit. You have cameras everywhere these days, so the perpetrators are easy to unmask. Pick them up and never let them into a stadium again. Events like this make families doubt: is it still safe to take my children to the stadium? This is really unacceptable. UEFA must intervene,” said Joe Cole.