Source: Daily_Mail
Demba Ba claims he was racially abused
ShareWest Ham striker Demba Ba claims he was the victim of racist abuse from his own fans at the club's fiery end-of-season bash on Monday. [LNB]The swanky gala dinner at London's Grosvenor Hotel was overshadowed by a brawl, which was sparked by the striker allegedly refusing to sign an autograph.[LNB]Ba lifted the lid on the episode, which piled further misery on the Hammers a mere 24 hours after they were relegated. [LNB] Centre of attention: Frederic Piquionne (left) and Demba Ba pose with an unidentified fan[LNB]Flashpoint: Police talk to security staff at the London Grosvenor House hotel after trouble flared at the West Ham end-of-season gala dinner[LNB]Enlarge 'It was a crazy situation,' the Senegal striker said. 'This guy came to me when we were sitting at the table. There were two players per table and Manuel da Costa was with me.[LNB]'Thepeople next to me said he was saying racist things. This guy asked for an autograph so I gave him his autograph. Then he asked me nicely how I was feeling so I just said I was tired from the game yesterday.[LNB]'He just replied, 'Oh, we're tired watching you play every weekend'. I was surprised and told Da Costa what the guy had said.[LNB]'Then the guy all of a sudden started screaming at me like crazy. I tried to calm him down but he didn't want to. He kept screaming, then some players came and pushed me out of there. They told me to walk away and tried to calm this guy but he didn't want to calm down and started smashing tables and glasses.[LNB]'I got up to show I'm not impressed at all by him, but this guy was a bit drunk.[LNB]'Danny Gabbidon said sit down, so I sat down and they tried to talk to him, but he didn't want to talk to anybody.' [LNB]Ba also told talkSPORT: 'I didn't understand everything that he said but the people next to me said he was saying racist things. When Gabbidon heard these words he came and tried to talk to him but this guy didn't want to listen and started insulting Gabbidon as well.' [LNB] All white on the night? Karren Brady arrives with her husband Paul Peschisolido[LNB] Calm before the storm: west Ham co-chairman David Gold arrives at London's Grosvenor House hotel for the club's end of season gala dinner on Monday night[LNB] Red mist: David Sullivan is welcomed to the party from his giant Bentley[LNB]Sportsmail understands Ba has asked the club not to take any further action against the fans involved. But that may not be enough for the men, one of whom claimed he was a season-ticket holder, to avoid sanctions from the club.[LNB]Co-owner David Sullivan said: 'We will 100 per cent hold the dinner again next year. It was a fund-raiser for the academy and very important for this club. We can't let aggressive behaviour from one drunken person spoil it.' [LNB]But Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp questioned the relegated club's decision to hold the party. The former West Ham player and boss said: 'There's been nothing but a bad atmosphere. What they're having a celebration dinner for, I don't know.'[LNB] No worries: Mark Noble and Robbie Keane are all smiles as they leave the dinner in a taxi[LNB] Glum: West Ham's Jack Collison (left) and Julien Faubert arrive for the end-of-season awards dinner[LNB] Sad end: Police guard outside the hotel after West Ham's dinner[LNB] Martin Samuel: Avram Grant was hopeless but buck has to stop with Gold and SullivanWest Ham fire sale: Who will be on their way and for how much?Arsenal make early move for Parker as West Ham fire sale beginsAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Jack Collison, Harry Redknapp, David Sullivan, Danny Gabbidon Places: London
