Attack by Dutch ultras, brawl with English players: half of Europa League conference degenerated

Clashes erupted in the Netherlands this Thursday evening after AZ Alkmaar lost (0-1) at home to English side West Ham in the Europa League semi-final second leg. AZ’s fans, fired up after this second defeat, stormed the main stand of the AFAS stadium in the northwest of the Netherlands before celebrating their win with West Ham fans after the final whistle, Dutch news agency ANP reported.

Several players from both teams, including West Ham captain Declan Rice, were caught up in the fan brawl. “The fans sat behind the AZ goal and went through a gate to access the main stand, after which they attacked West Ham supporters celebrating the qualification of former Parisians Alphonse Areola and Thilo Gerrer. From there, fists flew,” the agency added.

Pictures posted on Twitter apparently show a group of AZ’s supporters breaking through a barrier before clashing with fans of the English club. Other footage shows West Ham players jumping over the boards to intervene in the fight as they wave frantically. In another scene, several police officers chased away AZ supporters in riot gear before restoring order to the stadium.

WHU coach David Moyes, 85, whose father was on the field, said after the game that his players were involved because they wanted to protect their friends and family: “My parents and my friends were in the stands. I saw what happened afterwards.” Tried to protect.

Ten minutes later peace was restored with the intervention of the police. Henceforth, 4th in the Dutch championship is at stake. The rise in football-related incidents in the Netherlands has worried the country’s officials and sports officials.