2009 Upton Park riots
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Upton Park riot occurred at and around West Ham United
's Upton Park
ground before, during and after a Football League Cup
second round match between West Ham and Millwall
on 25 August 2009.
The match was won by the home side 3–1 after extra time
, but the game was marred by pitch invasion
s and disorder in the streets outside the ground, where one Millwall supporter was stabbed
. More than 20 other people were injured.
The disturbances were met with anger by the Football Association
, the British government and the two clubs involved. The incident led to fears of a return of the hooliganism
that had tarnished the reputation of English football in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. There were also concerns that it could negatively impact upon England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup
.
and the Boleyn Ground
) are 6.8 miles (10.9 km) apart – and, over the years, there have been several instances of violence between some fans of the two clubs. However, these occurrences had subsided in recent years as the clubs have played in different divisions for much of their recent history. Prior to the match, there had been 96 encounters between Millwall and West Ham, of which Millwall had won 38, West Ham 32, and 26 were drawn. The previous tie was a league game played on 16 April 2005 at the Boleyn Ground which ended with a 1–1 draw.
Hooliganism was rife at most English football grounds in the 1970s and 1980s, and many clubs were forced into installing fencing around the perimeter of the pitch. Millwall's hooligan firm, the Millwall Bushwackers
was perceived as one of the most violent, so much so that a common weapon used in such occurrences became known as a Millwall brick
. In March 1985, the Millwall Bushwackers were involved in a riot
with Luton Town
's firm; of the 31 men arrested, many were found to be supporters of other London clubs such as West Ham and Chelsea
.
West Ham United have also been in receipt of bad publicity for their Inter City Firm
, which received international notoriety after the release of the 1989 film The Firm and the 2005 film Green Street
.
The draw for the second round of the 2009–10 Football League Cup
took place on 12 August 2009, and paired West Ham and Millwall together for their first ever League Cup meeting.
could only name four substitutes for the game. They took the lead through Neil Harris in the 26th minute of the match, firing past goalkeeper Robert Green
after the West Ham
defenders had failed to clear a long throw-in from Scott Barron
. The Lions held the lead until three minutes from full-time, when Junior Stanislas
equalised for West Ham. Stanislas's goal sparked a pitch invasion
, and although players pleaded with the home fans to return to the stands, the resumption of the match was still delayed by several minutes. With the score at 1–1, the match went to extra time
. In the eighth minute of extra time, Millwall defender Andrew Frampton
was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and referee Paul Taylor
awarded West Ham a penalty kick
. Stanislas converted the penalty, and home fans invaded the pitch again, prompting the Millwall players to retreat to the dressing room. They eventually returned to complete the match, and Zavon Hines
made the score 3–1 to West Ham two minutes later.
commented, "We have made great progress in tackling hooliganism in this country and will not return to the dark days of the 80s". He called the incidents "a disgrace to football" and also said that any culprits should be banned from football for life. Justice secretary Jack Straw
said that "strong measures" needed to be taken to prevent a repeat of the disorder. Home secretary Alan Johnson
added, "Anyone who thinks thuggery has a place in modern-day football is living in the dark ages, and will bring only shame upon the teams they support." The shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt commented that "Wider questions need to be answered as to how the situation was allowed to get out of hand in the first place".
One West Ham fan was seen carrying a young child on their shoulders as they joined the pitch invasion. A youth worker called this "sickening... The message it is sending is very disturbing" and added that "Running onto the pitch with a young child on your shoulders is not an example to set to young people". The Football Association
said that the fan should receive a lifetime ban.
Harry Redknapp
, a former West Ham manager, advised the football authorities never to allow West Ham United and Millwall to play each other in a Cup game again.
The Metropolitan Police Service
said evidence suggested that the violence was an isolated incident and not a signal that the football violence seen in the 1980s was returning.
On 28 September 2009, both West Ham and Millwall were charged by the FA with offences related to the match. Both clubs were charged with failing to ensure that their fans refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour, racist behaviour and throwing missiles, harmful or dangerous objects onto the pitch. West Ham were also charged with failing to ensure that their supporters did not enter the field of play.
In January 2010 West Ham were fined £115,000 after being found guilty of violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour and of failing to prevent their fans entering the field of play. Millwall were cleared of all charges.
In response to the violence and public order offences the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Balconi to investigate the disorder surrounding the game. Eighty people suspected of violence before and after the match were arrested. As a result Inner London Crown Court
convicted several West Ham fans of violent disorder, passing prison sentences, including one of 20 months, along with many football banning orders - barring individuals from all football grounds - being imposed. West Ham banned at least 54 people for life from Upton Park
including 11 season ticket holders.
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
's Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
ground before, during and after a Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
second round match between West Ham and Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on 25 August 2009.
The match was won by the home side 3–1 after extra time
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
, but the game was marred by pitch invasion
Pitch invasion
A pitch invasion or field invasion, known as rushing the field in the United States, occurs when a crowd of people who are watching a sports game run onto the field, to celebrate or protest about an incident...
s and disorder in the streets outside the ground, where one Millwall supporter was stabbed
Stabbing
A stabbing is penetration with a sharp or pointed object at close range. Stab connotes purposeful action, as by an assassin or murderer, but it is also possible to accidentally stab oneself or others.Stabbing differs from slashing or cutting in that the motion of the object used in a stabbing...
. More than 20 other people were injured.
The disturbances were met with anger by the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
, the British government and the two clubs involved. The incident led to fears of a return of the hooliganism
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
that had tarnished the reputation of English football in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. There were also concerns that it could negatively impact upon England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup
2018 FIFA World Cup
The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups was the process by which the locations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups were selected. The process began officially in March 2009; eleven bids from thirteen countries were received, including one which was withdrawn and one that was...
.
Background
Millwall and West Ham United have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the clubs' first meeting, a friendly on 23 September 1897. The rivalry stems from the two sides' geographical proximity to one another – their current home grounds (The DenThe Den
*Football stadiums:**The Den, formerly known as The New Den and the current home of Millwall FC, located in Bermondsey, London, SE16**The Den , a football stadium once the home of Millwall FC, located in New Cross, London, SE14...
and the Boleyn Ground
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
) are 6.8 miles (10.9 km) apart – and, over the years, there have been several instances of violence between some fans of the two clubs. However, these occurrences had subsided in recent years as the clubs have played in different divisions for much of their recent history. Prior to the match, there had been 96 encounters between Millwall and West Ham, of which Millwall had won 38, West Ham 32, and 26 were drawn. The previous tie was a league game played on 16 April 2005 at the Boleyn Ground which ended with a 1–1 draw.
Hooliganism was rife at most English football grounds in the 1970s and 1980s, and many clubs were forced into installing fencing around the perimeter of the pitch. Millwall's hooligan firm, the Millwall Bushwackers
Millwall Bushwackers
The Millwall Bushwackers are a hooligan firm associated with Millwall F.C..-Background:The original firm associated with Millwall was known as F-Troop....
was perceived as one of the most violent, so much so that a common weapon used in such occurrences became known as a Millwall brick
Millwall brick
A Millwall brick is an improvised weapon made of a manipulated newspaper. It was named for supporters of Millwall F.C., who had a stereotyped reputation for football hooliganism. The Millwall brick was allegedly used as a stealth weapon at football matches in England during the 1960s and 1970s...
. In March 1985, the Millwall Bushwackers were involved in a riot
1985 Kenilworth Road riot
The 1985 Kenilworth Road riot occurred at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road ground before, during and after an FA Cup sixth-round match between Luton Town and Millwall on 13 March 1985. It was one of the worst incidents of football hooliganism during the 1980s, and led to a ban on away supporters by...
with Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
's firm; of the 31 men arrested, many were found to be supporters of other London clubs such as West Ham and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
.
West Ham United have also been in receipt of bad publicity for their Inter City Firm
Inter City Firm
The Inter City Firm is an English football hooligan firm mainly active in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, associated with West Ham United. The name came from the use of InterCity trains used to travel to away games...
, which received international notoriety after the release of the 1989 film The Firm and the 2005 film Green Street
Green Street
Green Street is a 2005 British/American independent drama film about football hooliganism in England. It was directed by Lexi Alexander and stars Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam. In the United States and Australia, the film is called Green Street Hooligans, while in the United Kingdom it has the...
.
The draw for the second round of the 2009–10 Football League Cup
2009–10 Football League Cup
The 2009–10 Football League Cup, known as the Carling Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by lager brand Carling, was the 50th season of the Football League Cup, a knock-out competition for England's top 92 football clubs....
took place on 12 August 2009, and paired West Ham and Millwall together for their first ever League Cup meeting.
Summary
Beset by injuries, MillwallMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
could only name four substitutes for the game. They took the lead through Neil Harris in the 26th minute of the match, firing past goalkeeper Robert Green
Robert Green
Robert Paul Green is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United and the England national football team as a goalkeeper.-Norwich City:...
after the West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
defenders had failed to clear a long throw-in from Scott Barron
Scott Barron
Scott Barron is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Millwall. He has also played in the Football League for Ipswich Town and Wrexham.-Playing career:...
. The Lions held the lead until three minutes from full-time, when Junior Stanislas
Junior Stanislas
Felix Junior Stanislas , more commonly known as Junior Stanislas is an English footballer who plays for Burnley as a winger in the Championship. He was previously with West Ham United.-West Ham United:...
equalised for West Ham. Stanislas's goal sparked a pitch invasion
Pitch invasion
A pitch invasion or field invasion, known as rushing the field in the United States, occurs when a crowd of people who are watching a sports game run onto the field, to celebrate or protest about an incident...
, and although players pleaded with the home fans to return to the stands, the resumption of the match was still delayed by several minutes. With the score at 1–1, the match went to extra time
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
. In the eighth minute of extra time, Millwall defender Andrew Frampton
Andrew Frampton
Andrew James Ker Frampton is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and who also has the ability to play at full-back. He currently plays for Gillingham.-Early career:...
was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and referee Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor (referee)
Paul Taylor is an English football referee, who previously took charge of Premier League matches for just one season, and now officiates in the Football League. He has also officiated for UEFA and FIFA in the past...
awarded West Ham a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
. Stanislas converted the penalty, and home fans invaded the pitch again, prompting the Millwall players to retreat to the dressing room. They eventually returned to complete the match, and Zavon Hines
Zavon Hines
Zavon Hines is a Jamaican-born, English footballer who currently plays for Championship side Burnley as a striker. Hines was born in Jamaica but has played for England's under-21 team.-West Ham United:...
made the score 3–1 to West Ham two minutes later.
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Reaction and aftermath
The violence was met by surprise and outrage from the footballing authorities and other bodies. The government's sports minister Gerry SutcliffeGerry Sutcliffe
Gerard "Gerry" Sutcliffe is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Bradford South since 1994, and was the Minister for Sport and Tourism in the Brown Government.- Biography :...
commented, "We have made great progress in tackling hooliganism in this country and will not return to the dark days of the 80s". He called the incidents "a disgrace to football" and also said that any culprits should be banned from football for life. Justice secretary Jack Straw
Jack Straw
Jack Straw , British politician.Jack Straw may also refer to:* Jack Straw , English* "Jack Straw" , 1971 song by the Grateful Dead* Jack Straw by W...
said that "strong measures" needed to be taken to prevent a repeat of the disorder. Home secretary Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson
Alan Arthur Johnson is a British Labour Party politician who served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that, he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was...
added, "Anyone who thinks thuggery has a place in modern-day football is living in the dark ages, and will bring only shame upon the teams they support." The shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt commented that "Wider questions need to be answered as to how the situation was allowed to get out of hand in the first place".
One West Ham fan was seen carrying a young child on their shoulders as they joined the pitch invasion. A youth worker called this "sickening... The message it is sending is very disturbing" and added that "Running onto the pitch with a young child on your shoulders is not an example to set to young people". The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
said that the fan should receive a lifetime ban.
Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
, a former West Ham manager, advised the football authorities never to allow West Ham United and Millwall to play each other in a Cup game again.
The Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
said evidence suggested that the violence was an isolated incident and not a signal that the football violence seen in the 1980s was returning.
On 28 September 2009, both West Ham and Millwall were charged by the FA with offences related to the match. Both clubs were charged with failing to ensure that their fans refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour, racist behaviour and throwing missiles, harmful or dangerous objects onto the pitch. West Ham were also charged with failing to ensure that their supporters did not enter the field of play.
In January 2010 West Ham were fined £115,000 after being found guilty of violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour and of failing to prevent their fans entering the field of play. Millwall were cleared of all charges.
In response to the violence and public order offences the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Balconi to investigate the disorder surrounding the game. Eighty people suspected of violence before and after the match were arrested. As a result Inner London Crown Court
Inner London Crown Court
The Inner London Sessions House Crown Court, more commonly known as the Inner London Crown Court, is a Crown Court in London, United Kingdom. It is located in the Sessions House on Newington Causeway at the corner of Harper Road in the Newington area of the London Borough of Southwark in South London...
convicted several West Ham fans of violent disorder, passing prison sentences, including one of 20 months, along with many football banning orders - barring individuals from all football grounds - being imposed. West Ham banned at least 54 people for life from Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
including 11 season ticket holders.