' OUT OF CONTROL/NEW STADIUM SEATING/STANDING '

' OUT OF CONTROL/NEW STADIUM SEATING/STANDING '

David Gold says stewards could not cope with standing West Ham fans.


Karren Brady has warned persistent standing offenders could have their season tickets permanently revoked.

At one stage scuffles broke out over fans in other fans seats.


By Andrew Dickson


Tuesday 23/08/16



David Gold claims so many fans stood during West Ham's first home Premier League fixture the stewards could not cope.


West Ham chairman David Gold has admitted the number fans standing during their game with Bournemouth meant stewards could not cope.

The club's first Premier League match at the London Stadium saw the team win 1-0 through Michail Antonio's late header.

While that ensured a positive start to top-flight football at the venue, there were significant problems with supporters standing during the game.


West Ham displayed messages asking spectators to sit down and Newham Council have said they will not lift the ground's capacity above 57,000 until the persistent offending stops.

There were similar issues during previous games there against Domzale in the Europa League qualifiers and in a friendly against Juventus.

Gold concedes the volume of those going against the club's wishes was such that the crowd could not be marshalled sufficiently.

Large groups of West Ham fans stood out of their seats during the game against Bournemouth


In a series of tweets published on his account @davidgold on Tuesday morning, he said: "There are thousands of standing fans home and away, too many for the stewards to cope with.

"So the stewards concentrate on standing fans who are obscuring the view of seated fans (including elderly and kids).

"Over the years it has evolved that away fans stand and that the kids, elderly and disabled are in the front rows."

West Ham's vice-chairman Karren Brady has previously said fans who persistently stand during matches are at risk of having their season tickets permanently revoked.


When the club previously played at the Boleyn Ground, standing in certain areas was unofficially tolerated but the need to sit is being enforced on a stricter basis.

If the problem recedes, there is scope for the former Olympic Stadium's capacity to increase to 60,000.

One other issue saw a number of fans left with no choice but to stand after appearing where they were meant to sit only to find the seats had not been fitted.

West Ham are working with their stadium partners to rectify the problem in time for Thursday's European fixture against Romanian side Astra Giurgiu and the 56 supporters affected with be compensated.

Karren Brady has warned persistent standing offenders could have their season tickets permanently revoked


A statement from stadium operator LS185 said: "London Stadium wish to apologise to those West Ham United season ticket holders who were unable to sit in their allocated seats for Sunday's Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth.

"An error in administration meant that a small number of supporters had to use alternative seats after the issue was recognised by our event stewards.

"All affected seats will be re-installed as a matter of priority ahead of Thursday's UEFA Europa League match with Astra Giurgiu."

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Pathetic

But unless you have a dedicated safe standing area it's the rules and it makes sense.

But unless you have a dedicated safe standing area it's the rules and it makes sense.

agree , the authorities should be looking at implementing safe standing right now, football has moved on since they were banned

Pathetic

Not 'pathetic' if you're elderly and can't stand for 90 mins or a kid and you can't see...

Then they should have the elderly and kids towards the front and let those that want to stand to be able to stand but are stopped in this Nanny state. Modern football is a disgrace. You are treated like friggin kids. At Fulham we got asked 3 times by 3 different stewards to sit down. Each time we laughed in there face.

got to have safe standing zones

Pathetic

Not 'pathetic' if you're elderly and can't stand for 90 mins or a kid and you can't see...

They knew people were going to stand, they know the vast majority want to stand so yes the fact they didn't prepare for it and designate an area to avoid the issue imo is pathetic.

Then they should have the elderly and kids towards the front and let those that want to stand to be able to stand but are stopped in this Nanny state. Modern football is a disgrace. You are treated like friggin kids. At Fulham we got asked 3 times by 3 different stewards to sit down. Each time we laughed in there face.

I do agree with most you say, mate but what about the elderly and kids who do t want to sit low down in the stand?
A way around it would be a 'safe standing area' in one of the stands as you suggest. Here, if elderly / kids want to sit down they indeed should get a seat lower in the stand.

That's why I said chief put the kids and elderly towards the front and let the top half stand .