West Ham fans stage protest march before Premier League match against Southampton
By AFP | Published: 31st March 2018 08:24 PM |
Last Updated: 31st March 2018 08:24 PM | A+A A- |
Police secure the area after a pitch invader ran onto the pitch during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and West Ham at the Olympic London Stadium in London, Saturday, March 10. (AP)
LONDON: West Ham supporters staged a protest march against the Premier League club's beleaguered owners before the match against Southampton on Saturday.
Hammers fans are furious at the way the club has been run following the move from their historic Upton Park ground to the unpopular Olympic Stadium in east London.
They congregated outside Stratford station before making their way to the ground.
The supporters, many of whom were carrying banners, marched around the stadium singing anti-board songs.
West Ham are languishing close to the Premier League relegation zone and ill-feeling among fans has boiled over in recent weeks.
Security inside the ground has been beefed up after serious crowd disturbances tarnished West Ham's last home match against Burnley on March 10.
Fans invaded the pitch during the defeat, while others threw missiles toward West Ham co-owners David Sullivan, who was struck by a coin, and David Gold. They were forced to flee their seats.
In response to those incidents, a security barrier has been erected close to the directors' box.
Sullivan will be in the directors' box for the Saints game but in a seat a few rows back from his usual one.
