FA launches investigation into West Ham-Millwall violence

[oldironside]

"The Football Association is holding talks with West Ham, Millwall, the Football League and the Metropolitan police as it begins to gather information relating to the violent scenes inside and outside Upton Park that marred last night's Carling Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground.

A 44-year-old man is in a "stable" condition having been stabbed in the chest during clashes between supporters around Upton Park tube station before kick-off. A number of arrests were made and the police are currently studying CCTV footage of the incidents in a bid to pinpoint troublemakers."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/26/west-ham-millwall-violence-fa

Now, I have to say this was a shock. Is it really still 1985? If that's the case Blair is just an ambitious young lawyer with a grasping wife, Bush is still trying to drink himself to death in Texas, Reagan is wondering why he's living on a White House set, it's 10 quid to get into Upton Park and I've still got my whole life in front of me.

Best wishes to the poor bastard who got stabbed.

[T_i_B]

1. It's not that much of a shock sadly

West Ham v Millwall games are well known for bringing out all the old nasties from the bad old days. I can remember hearing all the stories from both Hammers and Millwall fans from when they were last in the same division.

And that brings me onto the policing issue. I do have to ask what the policing was like as they must have known that trouble was very likely and IMHO there should have been a heavy police presence to deal with it.

[oldironside]

2. I haven't been to Upton Park since the mid-90s...

... but back in those days you couldn't move for the rozzers. Horses, riot vans, the works. And that was just when we were playing Swindon.

Nice little article in the Independent today tracing the roots of the rivalry. The more it changes the more it stays the same.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/a-rivalry-that-dates-back-to-the-heyday-of-british-shipbuilding-1777732.html