West Ham news LIVE: Reaction after Fiorentina final as fans clash with riot police
Danny Dyer and James Corden are among the celebrity fans celebrating after the Hammers claimed Europa Conference League glory in Prague
West Ham United players and staff will be recovering from the joy of winning their first major trophy for 43 years after beating Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in what proved to be a dramatic night on and off the pitch in Prague.
Jarrod Bowen’s 89th-minute goal gave the Hammers the most memorable of 2-1 wins, with celebrity supporters such as James Corden and Danny Dyer – whose daughter Dani is Bowen’s partner – celebrating the triumph. However, the match had earlier been marred when West Ham fans pelted Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi with objects as he went to take a corner in the first half and left him bleeding from a gash in the back of his head.
Hammers supporters then later clashed with riot police in Prague after setting off flares in celebration of victory, as a scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare in the Old Town area of the city. Riot police stormed a group after they lit a second flare, with fans responding by pelting the officers with bottles and missiles.
Earlier in the day, Czech police said they had detained at least 16 Fiorentina fans after they attacked West Ham supporters outside a bar, with videos shared on social media showing chairs and fireworks being thrown.
Follow all the latest news and reaction from West Ham’s European adventure below:
West Ham fans line streets to toast Europa Conference League champions
West Ham enjoyed a heroes’ welcome as fans lined the streets of east London to celebrate their Europa Conference League glory.
The Hammers won their first major trophy since the 1980 FA Cup, and a first European title since 1965, when they beat Italian side Fiorentina 2-1 in Prague on Wednesday night.
And their jubilant supporters, decked out in the famous claret and blue on a warm and sunny evening in the capital, packed the pavements as the Hammers paraded the silverware on an open-top bus.
The squad’s journey started at the site of their former home at Upton Park and finished at Stratford Town Hall, where they enjoyed a reception.
Only West Ham fans of a certain age will ever have seen their side celebrate success like this, with a similar parade being held after that 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup victory, where the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters got the taste of winning trophies.
But the younger generation made the most of it, climbing on lamp posts and bus stops to get the best vantage point of their heroes while also letting off flares.
West Ham fans line streets to toast Europa Conference League champions
The Hammers beat Fiorentina 2-1 in Wednesday night’s final in Prague.
West Ham fans fight riot police in Prague after Europa Conference League win
West Ham United fans clashed with riot police in Prague after setting off flares as they celebrated winning the Europa Conference League on Wednesday night.
Fans poured into the streets of the Czech capital following the Hammers’ victory over Fiorentina, with many already in the city centre after thousands of supporters travelled from the UK without tickets.
But a scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare as fans gathered in the Old Town area of the city.
Riot police stormed a group after they lit a second flare, with fans responding by pelting the officers with bottles and missiles.
West Ham fans fight riot police in Prague after Europa Conference League win
A scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare as fans gathered in the Old Town area of the city
Mass brawls, breathless hedonism and Jarrod Bowen: how West Ham gave me the night of my life
Our man Tom Peck was out in Prague and has written a lovely account of the joy, madness and disbelief surrounding the whole occasion for Indy Voices.
“If you happen to support West Ham United, it doesn’t feel inaccurate to say that out in the Prague suburbs, in a stadium that looks like a Premier Inn and is barely any bigger than the Tesco Extra over the road, everything changed,” writes Tom.
“It was not so much a football match as a makeover. It was like finding the boring old house you’ve lived in all your life has suddenly been given a glow up by the two Bowens: Jarrod and Laurence Llewellyn.
“If you happen to be anyone (well, almost anyone) who devotes a frankly unjustifiable amount of your time, money and emotional bandwidth to the fortunes of a football club, then you can easily go whole decades, lifetimes even, without ever knowing that this has always been what it’s all about: flying out to a European city, standing around in the sun and then coming back with a trophy.
“Winning something. Actually winning something. Not being promoted, or avoiding relegation, or securing qualification for this, that or the other. But getting to the very end of a competition and being the only team still in it. And then, in an exactly half-filled stadium, long after the other half have gone, raising up the prize.”
Read Tom Peck’s full piece below:
Fights, frights and Declan Rice: How West Ham gave me the night of my life | Tom Peck
It felt at times like it might last forever. Like they might never stop singing, never go home, that the mini Cresswells zigzagging about the six-yard box had somehow slipped the surly bonds of bedtime. What else is there, frankly, that keeps the little kid alive inside the fading grown-up quite like football, asks Tom Peck
West Ham promise to take action against fans who threw objects onto Prague pitch
West Ham have condemned the behaviour of a section of their support after Fiorentina defender Cristiano Biraghi was left bleeding by an object thrown from the crowd during their Europa Conference League final victory.
The game was goalless in the 35th minute when Biraghi went over to take a corner from in front of the end of the Eden Arena where West Ham supporters were sitting, with the player struck by what appeared to be a vape pen as cups and other objects rained down on him. He required a head strapping in order to continue, after referee Carlos Del Cerro Grande had briefly called a halt to the game and a stadium announcement had issued a warning for fans to stop throwing things and respect the players and officials before the match could continue.
West Ham issued a statement promising to take action against anyone found to have committed an offence and ban them from attending matches at the London Stadium.
“West Ham United unreservedly condemn the behaviour of a small number of individuals who threw objects onto the pitch during tonight’s UEFA Europa Conference League final,” said the statement.
“These actions have no place in football, and do not in any way represent the values of our football club and the overwhelming majority of our supporters, who have behaved impeccably in Prague this week and throughout our last two seasons in European competition.
“We will work with the police and other stakeholders to review the incidents and act against anyone found guilty of an offence.
“In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police and will be given an indefinite ban and therefore be unable to enter London Stadium and travel with the club. There is no place for this kind of behaviour at West Ham United.”
Reporting by PA
Declan Rice set to leave West Ham after Europa Conference League success
West Ham chairman David Sullivan has confirmed captain Declan Rice will be allowed to leave this summer and he expects to start receiving bids immediately.
The England midfielder said he did not know if he had played his last game for the club after leading them to Europa Conference League glory.
A 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in Wednesday night’s final saw him become only the third Hammers skipper to lift a major trophy, following Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds.
However, Sullivan admits a gentleman’s agreement means they will allow a player who still has two years remaining on his contract – one year plus an option – to leave.
Asked whether lifting the trophy in Prague was Rice’s last action as a West Ham player, Sullivan told talkSPORT: “I think it has to be. We promised him he could go.
“He set his heart on going and in due course he has to get on and we have to get a replacement.
“It is not something we wanted to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago and he turned it down. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.
“I think the offers will start to come today. Three or four clubs have shown interest but, out of respect to West Ham, while we’re still playing, you don’t make offers for players.”
Reporting by PA
West Ham players and staff party into early hours after Europa Conference League win
David Moyes wasn’t the only member of the West Ham group to be dancing away last night. Plenty of players and staff were partying into the early hours of this morning
David Moyes filmed dancing in the changing room after Europa Conference League win
West Ham manager David Moyes has a reputation for being reserved but the Scot was letting loose after victory last night.
Moyes was filmed dancing away, beer in hand, in the changing room. Dad dancing? Sure. But you can’t begrudge Moyesy loving life
West Ham boss David Moyes hands winner’s medal to his father
David Moyes handed his Europa Conference League winners’ medal to his father after ending West Ham’s 43-year wait for a trophy.
Jarrod Bowen’s dramatic last-minute goal sank Fiorentina 2-1 as the Hammers secured a first piece of silverware since 1980’s FA Cup, and a first European trophy since 1965, on a historic and emotional night in Prague.
Moyes’ dad, 87-year-old David Snr, has been on every step of West Ham’s European tour and joined his son on the pitch after the final whistle.
“He was the first one, I thought I should get it round his neck,” said the jubilant West Ham boss. “He’s watched a lot over the years and I hope he enjoyed it.”
‘More titles than Spurs’: Young fan in tears as West Ham secure Europa Conference League win
West Ham’s win caused plenty of emotion for their fans and one young supporter was left in tears by their victory.
He was still able to take a dig at the Hammers’ big rivals Tottenham though.
“I just can’t believe West Ham have won something, we’ve won more titles than Spurs,” he said.
His reaction won the praise of Twitter users, with one commenting: “What an amazing memory for him to have. Bless him.”
A thousand matches later and David Moyes finally has his crowning glory
There were two men running free in the Fiorentina half, writes Richard Jolly. First Jarrod Bowen, en route to winning West Ham United their first trophy in 43 years.
And then David Moyes, sprinting on to the Prague pitch in celebration, arms stretched out wide. It was a run that was 25 years in the making, a journey that took him from the Auto Windscreens Shield to the Europa Conference League.
Few clubs have waited longer for the emotional release of securing silverware. Few managers, either. It began in a derided knockout competition for Moyes, the Auto Windscreens where Preston North End, newly under a 34-year-old centre-back, faced Macclesfield in January 1998.
A quarter of a century later and, in game No.1,097 of a marathon managerial career, Moyes had a major honour he could call his own. He had said he credited Sir Alex Ferguson with the Community Shield his Manchester United claimed, perhaps thinking there would be further glory for him at Old Trafford.
There wasn’t. But if Moyes has long been destined to be remembered as the man miscast as Ferguson’s successor, he has other places in footballing history. The best Everton manager since Howard Kendall is in select company. Like Ron Greenwood, like John Lyall but like no one else, Moyes has won something with, and for, West Ham.
Read the full article on Moyes completing his managerial journey:
A thousand matches later and David Moyes finally has his crowning glory
The West Ham boss landed the Europa Conference League title, his first trophy in a mammoth career of coaching
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments