Source: SKY_Sports
Minister - Disgrace to football
Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has branded the violence which marred West Ham's Carling Cup clash with Millwall as 'a disgrace to football'.
Sutcliffe has thrown his support behind the Football Association's call for life bans for anyone found to have been involved in the incidents before, during and after the Upton Park encounter.
The Football League and England's World Cup 2018 bid team have joined the chorus of condemnation following the ugly scenes both outside and inside the stadium and the pitch invasions which occurred during the Hammers' 3-1 victory.
The FA are examining the events that saw a man stabbed outside Upton Park. West Ham have pledged to help with the investigation but could also face action themselves.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed officers made several arrests and were scanning CCTV footage to identify hooligans.
"The scenes last night were a disgrace to football," Sutcliffe said.
"I completely back the FA's call for any person identified as involved in the violence to be banned for life and urge full and swift co-operation from all parties in the investigation into what happened.
"We have made great progress in the past 20 years in tackling football hooliganism in this country and we will not tolerate any return to the dark days of the 70s and 80s when it plagued the game.
"We will never be complacent in the fight against football violence."
Football League chief operating officer Andy Williamson said: "We utterly deplore the violence that took place at last night's match between West Ham United and Millwall.
"Such behaviour has no place in the game and we will work with all the relevant authorities to ensure that those behind it are held to account.
"Football has made huge progress in the last 30 years in the management of football matches and the whole game must continue to demonstrate that such behaviour will not be tolerated."
England's 2018 World Cup bid leader Andy Anson is acutely aware pictures of the trouble that erupted will be beamed around the world.
With the final decision on the World Cup hosts not due to be made until December 2010, Anson knows the furore will have a chance to die down, but the bid team have been quick to attack the thugs who caused such mayhem.
A spokesman said: "England 2018 shares the FA's stance in condemning the disorder surrounding last night's Carling Cup fixture between West Ham and Millwall.
"The scenes from Upton Park were a regrettable but isolated example of a culture that the football community has worked tirelessly to eradicate from our game.
"It is extremely disappointing that the mindless actions of a tiny minority have today deflected from the passion and dedication that millions of genuine fans show every week for our national game."
