Source: SKY_Sports
Watmore calls for perspective
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} FA chief executive Ian Watmore believes the violence at West Ham this week was a 'one-off' and it will not affect England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.[LNB] The Hammers' Carling Cup victory over Millwall on Tuesday was marred by violence outside Upton Park while inside the stadium there were repeated pitch invasions and reports of racist chants.[LNB]While the unsavoury images were beamed around the world, Watmore insists the incident must be put in perspective and it does not herald a return to the bad old days of football hooliganism in England.[LNB]He said: "We have to get the perspective right.[LNB]"It doesn't help anybody to see those scenes being beamed around the world but, at the same time, it is a one-off and we have to keep it that way.[LNB]Best"Fifa and Uefa and many of the associations around the world do come to us for a lead on combating violence and hooliganism, racism and other forms of chanting, and we have to remain the best in the world at combating that and remain at the top of our game.[LNB]"I think if we do it won't hurt the bid at all."[LNB]Watmore added: "We have to condemn what happened last week at West Ham outright and make sure that it is a one-off.[LNB]"We have done a huge amount over the last decade or so to put our house in order on both the violence and the racist chanting.[LNB]"Indeed, the rest of the world probably looked to us for a lead on it. As we had a problem first, we solved it first.[LNB]Not complacent"So we mustn't be complacent, we have to clamp down when it happens in this country, but I think we also have to have perspective.[LNB]"This isn't now endemic in all of our games. It was, at the moment, a one-off and we need to make sure it remains so."[LNB]Both clubs have vowed to ban any individuals found to be involved, but Watmore said there could be further punishments.[LNB]He said: "We've got to do the investigation and ascertain the facts. In our rules the clubs have the ability to ban their fans and both clubs have come out and said they will do so.[LNB]"From our point of view, we have to look at whether the clubs acted with all due care and attention and, if they did, then we have to work with the clubs and with the leagues to make sure that we clamp down.[LNB]"If they didn't then they can come into our disciplinary system."[LNB]
