[lierro]

Hammers fans accused of racially abusing own players' relatives

Published 23:01 03/04/11 By Darren Lewis - EXCLUSIVE

Families of two West Ham players claim they were victims of racist abuse - from their own fans.

West Ham are investigating after guests of strikers Victor Obinna and Freddie Piquionne were involved in a row with fans during Saturday’s defeat to Manchester United.

Angry relatives of Obinna confronted supporters in the Main Stand after they and guests of Nigerian frontman Obinna were abused.

The families were sitting in a box behind fans watching the game when they claim a small section began hurling racist abuse at them.

An altercation is understood to have taken place after at least one family member left the box to go downstairs and confront fans.

A source said: “Some of the stuff they said was disgusting. You just don’t expect to hear that from people supporting your own team.

“These were families of the players who didn’t do anything to deserve that. It’s a disgrace.”

The families are believed to have declined the opportunity to speak to police but a formal complaint is now being considered.

A West Ham spokesman said: "We take these allegations very seriously and are looking into them. If there is found to be any wrongdoing, then we will take appropriate action."

Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/We ... z1Igi06UNv






West Ham's Obinna denies family were racially abused
By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Lagos

Victor Obinna Nsfor in action for West Ham
Obinna says his family were not at the game against Manchester United

West Ham striker Victor Obinna has rejected reports that his family were subjected to racist abuse by fans last Saturday.

The Premier League club announced an investigation into the claims following the 4-2 defeat by Manchester United.

But the player told BBC Sport he was shocked to hear about an incident that never occurred.

"Nothing happened - I do not have any of my family members in England," Obinna told BBC Sport on Tuesday.

"There is no point asking me to confirm or verify an incident that never happened - I was in total shock when I heard and read about it in the papers.

"I didn't have any of my relatives at the game and I do not know anyone who complained of any racial incident at the game."

Reports also suggested that the family of fellow West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne had been abused but Obinna did not know anything about those claims.

Both players came on as substitutes in the match against United, which the visitors won 4-2 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 447767.stm

[lierro]

Interesting. So the paper says one thing and the family says another. I find it hard to believe that the paper would make up such a story. Something probably did happen but the information they were given was obviously wrong.

The Mirror and other red tops are notorious for making up crap to sell papers and for their own agenda. The guy who wrote this article is apparently a Spurs fan (most Spurs supporters hate West Ham and vice versa) nd is black. West Ham have just beaten Spurs in a bid for the Olympic stadium after the 2012 Olympics and have also taken 4 poiunts out of 6 off Spurs this season with Spurs desperately needing the points to get into Europe again next season. Make your own mind up about his agenda.

[chzvacmyye]

I'm not sure, I mean the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that the two chairmen could have told the player to deny his family was at the game, just to maintain the club's image, it's bad enough they had the hooligans, but racists would be a big no no, that would not surprise me, given that the owners are Gold and Sullivan. However the papers are known for making up such stories, so them making this up wouldn't surprise me either.

[lierro]

West Ham have never had a racism problem against black people, the guy who ran the ICF was black and Clyde Best, one of the first black footballers in England was a legend here. In the 80s when the likes of Chelsea were flocking to the NF, West Ham supporters used to chase them off the manor when they tried to recruit outside the ground. I would be very surprised indeed if West Ham fans were abusing someone for being black, let alone one of our own players.

[chzvacmyye]

Right now we've cleared that up. I would be surprised also if this were really true. I mean I know a lot of papers latched onto it but still.

[lierro]

Right now we've cleared that up. I would be surprised also if this were really true. I mean I know a lot of papers latched onto it but still.

You clearly have no idea about West Ham supporters. I'm on the biggest West Ham forum, loads of people on it were at the ground and not a single one saw the incident. Infact the only one who seems to know anything abouit it is this excuse for a journalist from the Mirror.

[chzvacmyye]

I have a feeling this Darren Lewis made up a big-ish story a while back....I forget what it was.....

Actually it MAY have been a fallout at the time between Ronaldo and Sir Alex, we're talking 2008 here, and he was absolutley adamant Ronaldo would walk out that summer. When the summer was over Ronaldo was still a United player.