Source: Daily_Mail
BREAKING NEWS: Violence erupts between hundreds of West Ham and Millwall fans in 'large-scale' riot
A man has been stabbed and violent battles have broken out betweenrival West Ham and Millwall football fans in a 'planned large-scale' riot at the game.[LNB]Hundreds of fans are involved in the disorder which police said wascaused by people without tickets who had intended to start trouble atthe Carling Cup game between the two London sides taking place at UptonPark in east London.[LNB]Pockets of violence also spread to inside the ground where somesupporters made it on to the pitch.[LNB] A fan covered in blood is removed from thepitch by police at the game between West Ham and Millwall whereviolence broke out inside and outside the stadium [LNB] [LNB] Stewards and police are in thestands trying to keep the two sets of fans apart as rival fans tauntedone another as news of the fighting outside filtered through.[LNB][LNB]A spokesman for Metropolitan Police said more officers were being sent to the scene.[LNB]'There is large-scale trouble involving hundreds of fans which we are dealing with at the moment,' he added.[LNB]A number of arrests have been made for disorder and breaches of banning orders.[LNB]Policesaid the stabbing, in Priory Road close to the stadium, is connected tothe fighting and the man is being treated by paramedics.[LNB] Shameful scenes: A West Ham fan makes it onto the Upton Park pitch[LNB] [LNB]On the Millwall Independent Supporters Association website fans were tonight discussing the reports of violence.[LNB]One fan, calling himself Uwe said: "Already this is turning into the biggest s*** storm for a while.[LNB]'Hopefullyit won't f*** the club too much. Met have made their own bed by notgiving us the tickets and then saying trouble was caused by 'ticketlesssupporters'."[LNB]Inside Upton Park pockets of violence also broke out. Some supporters made it on to the pitch.[LNB] Menace: Police officers in riot gear monitor fans on Priory Road, outside Upton Park where a huge brawl broke out between rival fans earlier[LNB]The rival fans taunted one another as news of the fighting outside filtered through. The game finished 1-1 meaning an extra 30 minutes would be played.[LNB]As West Ham took the lead in extra time 50 or 60 fans ran on the pitch. The players were forced off the field for a short time.[LNB]Outside John Whittingham, 35, a caretaker who lives near the ground, said: 'There were lots of scuffles and fights before the game. I saw a couple of people with bloody faces. There was lots of shouting and a lot of bottles were thrown.[LNB]'People were throwing bricks but I haven't got a clue where they were finding them. Some people were trying to rip bollards off the pavement. There were also some small fires lit.'[LNB] Play was suspended during injury time as West Ham won the tie 3-1[LNB]Builder Peter Simpson, 35, from Southend, Essex, said the clashes were between rival football fans.[LNB]'It was kicking off all over the place and the police didn't seem to be able to stop it,' he said. 'There were quite a few people injured. It was quite nasty.'[LNB]As a helicopter buzzed overhead, scores of police officers in riot gear lined the streets.[LNB]By 9.45pm, the trouble seemed to have been brought under control but officers remained outside the ground in readiness for the final whistle.[LNB]Police said later that the victim of the stabbing was a 44-year-old man who is now in a stable condition in hospital.[LNB]A Met Police spokesman said, 'Officers are now containing it but there is still disorder.'[LNB]As the final whistle blew at Upton Park hundreds of fans invaded the pitch. Police and stewards battled with fans in an attempt to remove them from the field of play.[LNB]As thousands of fans flooded from the ground, police closed several roads surrounding Upton Park and ushered them towards the tube station.[LNB]Around 200 officers in riot gear, backed up by at least 20 mounted officers, patrolled outside the station.[LNB][LNB] Explore more:Places:London, Upton Park
