West Ham vs Chelsea violence: From Olympics to football, the London Stadium plays catch up in race to stamp out the rioters

James Olley27 October 2016

Segregation is the antithesis of the Olympic spirit. London 2012 became a symbol of communal celebration and the design of various stadia incorporated that mantra.

The scenes witnessed at several West Ham home games this season sadly prove that is incompatible with English football in 2016. As ever, the idiotic acts of a few morons distract from all the hard work the club have done to make the transition across east London as smooth as possible.

But one of the English game’s biggest selling points around the world is its passion: stadia are almost always full, overseas managers frequently comment in glowing terms about the fervour that greets them at every venue and the sheer force of will to overcome financial imbalance makes the Premier League the most competitive division in the world.

However, by perpetuating tribalism, as the spectacular hyperbole around the game does in increasing measure, the actions of a miscreant few take that passion to a dark place — as witnessed at the London Stadium last night.

West Ham, the stadium owner E20 and operator LS185 have a duty to secure the safety of supporters and that includes saving them from themselves if needs be. LS185 is currently advertising vacancies for a safety officer and deputy safety officer but it is difficult to imagine many applicants being encouraged to apply after the ugly scenes here last night.

As much as LS185 might deny it, the repeated failure to tackle trouble inside the stadium strongly suggests it has underestimated the level of hostility at football matches. Athletics crowds are a markedly different composition — sub-cultures of drinking and violence could not be further removed.

There is a shortfall of expertise in dealing with football crowds, partly explained by the decision of around a third of the 140 stewards who originally worked matchdays at Upton Park to quit.

West Ham and Chelsea fans clash - in pictures

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The sheer scale of the Olympic Park makes it extremely difficult to eliminate scuffles before and after matches, so it is to the police’s credit that there was very little trouble recorded outside the ground.

A stronger police presence inside the stadium is an absolute must from here on. As per the existing agreement, riot police entered the arena only when trouble flared and it once again reflects well on them that the situation did not escalate when rival fans clashed during the final 10 minutes of the game.

Police are reluctant to enter the stadium because a satisfactory radio system is yet to be installed. Disputes over who foots the bill for the extra cost have delayed its implementation and the Metropolitan Police’s deputy assistant commissioner Peter Terry said earlier in the season: “Until there is comprehensive Airwave radio coverage throughout the ground, officers will not be routinely deployed within it under a Special Services agreement.

“The stadium operators have only recently agreed to install a satisfactory radio system. This issue was highlighted to the stadium operators in October 2014 and the Met has been in negotiation with stadium operators.”

The situation has dragged on for too long. It is believed the radio system could be in place by the time Arsenal visit in December but it must be made a top priority.

West Ham vs Chelsea: EFL Cup In Pictures

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Just as West Ham are doing all they can to inject a sense of home to their new surroundings, it feels as though the stadium itself is playing catch-up in adjusting to the new demands.

Goading of rival fans is an inevitability but West Ham must explore the possibility of redistributing their hardcore element to a different part of the ground if it would help dilute the hostility.

The game has come a long way but segregation is a depressing yet necessary element of security at football matches. The London Stadium is learning that the hard way.

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