After the not undeserved 2-1 win in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals at West Ham United, there could be almost unlimited euphoria around Eintracht Frankfurt. However, the mood is clouded by shocking reports from victims and eyewitnesses from London.
Days before the eagerly awaited first duel against Eintracht Frankfurt, West Ham United had made it clear that conditions like in the quarter-finals, when more than 20,000 SGE supporters had virtually taken the Camp Nou in Barcelona, would be prevented this time by all means.
And the Hammers followed up their announcement with action: A “sports1“According to the report, numerous Eintracht fans who had bought tickets for the game and paid huge sums for them were not allowed into the stadium by stewards unless their tickets were valid for the guest area, which has around 3,000 spectators. People with a German passport were therefore rigorously rejected.
“Blank hatred” against Eintracht Frankfurt’s substitute bench
In some cases, however, those who did make it to the stadium may have regretted making the long journey to London.
Videos circulating online show how fans who cheered after the Frankfurt goals were brutally attacked. In addition, there were repeated violent provocations between the guest block and the adjoining spectator areas.
The Hessian substitute bench reportedly also suffered from the aggressive behavior of the Hammers supporters. The “HR” journalist Carsten Schellhorn reported via Twitter that coaches, staff and substitutes had been “ruthlessly insulted and threatened the whole time”. The SBU entourage was met with “blatant hate”.
Journalists attacked at Eintracht Frankfurt game
But it wasn’t just fans and players who felt the lack of hospitality from West Ham supporters. Already at half-time, German radio reporters from “ARD” were physically attacked at their workplace.
According to their descriptions, they received “several punches in the back of the head, in the neck, in the back”. That’s probably not “the fine English way,” wrote journalist Tim Brockmeier on Twitter.
He thanked the media staff of Eintracht, but also the host, “who really had to bring us to safety during the break”.
His colleague Philipp Hofmeister also thanked all West Ham fans who “love football and respect their opponents” and also wrote on Twitter: “We’re fine.”
“Mentally it was difficult afterwards”
According to a report by “ARD”, the attacks came shortly after West Ham equalized in the 21st minute. “We’re being attacked here,” Hofmeister said during the live broadcast.
In the seconds prior, tumult had been audible. “I’ve never experienced anything like that,” said Brockmeier after both had been hit and the headset had been ripped off his head: “We’re shocked.”
During the break, the two reporters from Hessischer Rundfunk changed places and continued to comment from there. “Mentally it was difficult afterwards,” admitted Hofmeister.