Source: Daily_Mail
Gianfranco easy on West Ham fans after Millwall Carling Cup clash
Gianfranco Zola is pleading with the FA to be lenient with their punishment when they conclude their investigation into the violent scenes which marred West Ham's Carling Cup clash with Millwall.[LNB]Disappointed: Gianfranco Zola[LNB]West Ham manager Zola said: 'There has to be a balance in the punishment because if it is too hard then those people who are genuine supporters will be unfairly dealt with. [LNB]'A good thing to do is to punish those who went on to the pitch because we need to be hard on those people. I am not the judge, though, and I can't tell the FA what to do. [LNB]'I've been here 11 months as a manager and seven years as a player and I've never seen anything like it before so I don't feel like condemning West Ham.' [LNB]While Zola has had a difficult week off the field, he can at least console himself with the signing of 26-year-old striker Alessandro Diamanti from Livorno. [LNB]'Potentially he could become a superstar,' said Zola. 'He is a player who can score goals and produce.'[LNB] Blackburn v WEST HAM: Too soon for Diamanti as Cole recovers to lead the lineWest Ham snap up Livorno striker Alessandro Diamanti for £6mMartin Samuel: This was not Millwall's problem; this was down to West HamWEST HAM UNITED FC
