West Ham United's 'Robust' Response To 'Watfordgate'

The groundswell of opinion among fans and the massively negative press that followed the 2-4 defeat to Watford at the London Stadium has, as expected, invoked an immediate response from the club with the blame for events being firmly placed on the stadium management and particularly on the security company they use. The 'robust' response on the club's official website is as follows:
"West Ham United undertook a full investigation into the crowd issues immediately after Saturday’s game with Watford and today held a productive meeting with stadium owners E20. Whilst West Ham United do not hold the Safety Certificate (this is held by LS185) or control the security at the stadium, the Club is doing everything possible within its jurisdiction to help provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all supporters. It is important that we recognise the vast majority who have attended the first five fixtures played at London Stadium have been outstanding with their behaviour and support. They, like all at West Ham United, do not want their reputation or the Club’s to be tarnished by the minority. Today, the Club have insisted that E20 guarantee a police presence in the Stadium. In addition, the Club have also specified a number of essential important improvements to match day operations moving forward, including the need for LS185 to bolster the stewarding and security operation in terms of numbers, but also in terms of the level training and experience they have dealing with Premier League football matches. E20 confirmed today that immediate action is being taken on the issues raised. The Club will work tirelessly with them to ensure London Stadium continues to be the inclusive and family-friendly environment that all parties have worked so hard to achieve. This includes a more robust and secure line of segregation between the home and visiting fans as specified by the Club. We have been assured this will be in place ahead of the next match. The Club has already taken action to improve all match day elements within their control, including the relocation of young children and families from areas where the fans are more vociferous and the issuing of season long bans for supporters engaging in antisocial behaviour.
The Club is working hard to move likeminded supporters into areas to enhance their match day experience. This process commenced ahead of the Watford game and has already proved successful in key areas. The Club will continue prioritising this approach around the stadium.
In relation to Saturday’s match against Watford: • 10 individuals were ejected from the Stadium.• No arrests were made. • The Club received seven complaints in relation to standing, although 40 reports were received in relation to the antisocial behaviour in the stands.
The Club would appeal to supporters to report any incidents directly to the Club, as all reported complaints and incidents are fully investigated, in conjunction with a full review of CCTV footage from the day, with a view to issuing further bans where appropriate. Supporters are requested to provide as much information as possible, as the more intelligence the Club have the more proactive and focused all efforts to clamp down on antisocial behaviour will be. The Club will act on every piece of evidence all of which will be collated and treated in the strictest of confidence. The Club now appeals to all supporters to come together and support West Ham in the famous way we have historically been so proud of."
At least the issues are being addressed, certain teething troubles were expected following the move from the Boleyn Ground to the London Stadium, but they have turned out being more root canal than a simple filling!
It does appear that the immediate issue that needs addressing is top of the agenda, and that being crowd segregation. It is a blessing in disguise that things 'kicked off' during the Watford match, and as much as their 'cheerleaders' would like to think, they were one of the 'softer' teams that West Ham will face, even though the match was technically a London derby. Had the visitors been from Tottenham or Chelsea the outcome could have been horrific, and that is no over statement!
Negatives & Positives:
The obvious negative is that the publicity for the club has been atrocious, images of fighting fans have been beamed all round the world, hardly the sort of global branding envisaged by the West Ham hierarchy. Fans feel 'disconnected', not because of sight lines or atmosphere, more the fact that the stewards treat them generally politely but incredibly inefficiently, acting with no latitude, empathy is an essential element of crowd control!
The positives are that a major incident has thus far been avoided, and henceforth the impending 'shoring up' between the away fans and the Sir Trevor Brooking stand home fans will engender a feeling of increased security and well being, especially among those who are accompanying children. Because there has been such a brouhaha about the first few matches, rival supporters have begun to think the london stadium is 'there for the taking', the new controls being put in place should help snuff out that particular cinder and hopefully people can enjoy watching a football match instead of seeing an endless stream of hapless 'yellow jackets' panicking as they try to diffuse situations they have little or no training for.
The increased police presence is also a must, and one that will be welcomed by all, even those who don't always see eye to eye with the authorities! It is to be hoped that they can suggest the leaving time for the away supporters in order to avoid clashes outside the stadium as well.
So: Build a wall to segregate the away fans, a sufficient metal barrier that is high enough not to be vaulted and strong enough not to be knocked over. Have a Police presence inside the Stadium, and insist on much better training for the security staff. These actions will go a long way to making a visit to the London Stadium a positive experience that can be recommended. Of course we haven't touched on the issue of safe standing and family zones yet, why on earth given the amount of season tickets held by under 16's, was no provision made for a family zone? It beggars belief that the hard working board of West Ham didn't perceive this issue before it had a chance to develop. The safe standing problem will unfortunately run and run due to the FA's vice like grip on any meaningful change to the rules, however common sense can prevail if like minded souls are given the option to swap areas that they are currently seated in and be positioned where they are not obscuring the views of those who cannot or do not wish to stand, or those of children. Of course by doing so the club would be surreptitiously condoning standing, but technically they would just be 'assembling' like minded supporters who like to 'sing and chant' more than others.
It is vital that West Ham United is seen as a club moving forward, and their supporters not as a bunch of ingrates who cannot handle being 'gifted' one of the best stadiums in the world, but as supporters who are embracing a brave new world whist maintaining the core values that made West Ham many opposition supporters' favourite second team. Come on you irons? - Ed