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UPDATE: West Ham win first trophy in 43 years

By David Laycock • Updated: 08 Jun 2023 • 7:45

Incidents of violence as West Ham take on Fiorentina

Violence on and off the pitch in Europa Conference League Final Credit: UEFA Europa League Public domain

Updated: Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 7:35 am

West Ham last night, June 7, claimed their first trophy since 1980. The 43-year wait was over as Jared Bowen scored a late winner after a build-up marred by fan violence.

West Ham United posted this celebratory image on Twitter saying: “WHAT A WAY TO WIN IT!!!”

Indeed it was fabulous. The Hammers broke the early deadlock when Said Benrhama’s penalty sent Pietro Terracciano the wrong way. But it was not a lead that West Ham held for long.

Giacomo Bonaventura tucked the ball away from the Hammers’ defence and keeper five minutes later on 67 minutes to set up a tense end to the game.

But as the 90th minute struck Lucas Paquetá released Jared Bowen for a fabulously cool solo goal in such a high-pressure situation and it only remained for West Ham to see off a long stretch of added time and glory was theirs.

Fabrizio Romano said this on Twitter: “Fantastic night for West Ham fans… and for Declan Rice who captains his team to European trophy. #WHUFC It’s probably the best final step possible for Declan, fantastic years at the club… now ready to make his move. Arsenal, ahead of Bayern. But tonight, time to enjoy.”

He then handed the stage over to Rice to speculate on his future with another Twitter post: “There’s a lot of speculation about my future. Obviously there is interest from other clubs but ultimately I’ve still got two years left at West Ham”. #WHUFC “We will see. I love this club, I’m the captain”.

Rice will undoubtedly at this moment be at least internally speculating about a move away from the Hammers, who despite last night’s success have had a disappointing Premier League Campaign.

With interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich, it might be the right time for Declan Rice to make his move any case congratulations go to West Ham for a fantastic night and a return to trophy-winning ways.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

West Ham are currently taking on Fiorentina, June 7, in the final of The Europa Conference League in Prague. But West Ham fans were attacked by Italian ‘Ultras’ before the game and a Fiorentina player was left bleeding by a projectile allegedly hurled by a West Ham fan.

Dailly’s Curly Hair posted a video on Twitter of the pre-match violence saying: “The Italian ultras are at it already. Be careful out there West Ham.”

https://twitter.com/happyhammer74/status/1666493291162918918?s=20

Italian ultras carried flares, chains, bottles and batons as they attacked West Ham supporters this afternoon. West Ham fans have described the horrifying attack by the far-right group as ‘completely unprovoked’.

The Ultras were dressed in all black and were apparently around 100 in number. The group had supposedly attacked a few bars in the city centre before being chased away by riot police.

Alfie Mulligan got caught up in the crossfire and posted this on Twitter: “Just been stood in a lovely bar in Prague … 50+ Fiorentina fans come round the corner shooting fireworks, armed with batons … but looks like a war hospital. Completely unprovoked. Children in the bar. I got hit by a chair. This isn’t what the final was about.”

It seemed that the violence would then spill over onto the pitch as Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was apparently hit by a vape pen thrown by a West Ham supporter.

B/R Football posted pictures of Biraghi’s injury on Twitter saying: “Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi after being hit by objects thrown at him from West Ham supporters during the Europa Conference League final”.

The match is currently 1-1 after West Ham took the lead with a Said Benrhama penalty, which was quickly cancelled out by a goal from Fiorentina’s Giacomo Bonaventura. It is to be hoped that that is the end of the violence and fans can settle for a thrilling conclusion to this competition.

And West Ham might have just gone 2-1 up in the 90th minute!

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Written by

David Laycock

Dave Laycock has always written. Poems, songs, essays, academic papers as well as newspaper articles; the written word has always held a great fascination for him and he is never happier than when being creative. From a musical background, Dave has travelled the world performing and also examining for a British music exam board. He also writes, produces and performs and records music. All this aside, he is currently fully focussed on his journalism and can’t wait to share more stories from around the world and beyond.

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