Football: Violence erupts at London derby

AFP

LONDON - A man was stabbed late Tuesday as violence erupted between rival football fans outside West Ham's stadium in London during a match against local rivals Millwall.
Several hundred fans clashed outside Upton Park, throwing bottles and bricks and starting small fires as police moved in to try and stop the violence, witnesses and police said.
Inside the stadium, hundreds more fans later invaded the pitch when the final whistle blew as police and stewards battled to remove them.

Football: Violence erupts at London derby
Riot police lined the streets outside the stadium and a helicopter flew overhead in preparation for further possible clashes as thousands of fans tried to leave the stadium at full time.
"There were lots of scuffles and fights before the game. I saw a couple of people with bloody faces. There was lots of shouting and a lot of bottles were thrown," said John Whittingham, who lives near the ground.
"People were throwing bricks but I haven't got a clue where they were finding them. Some people were trying to rip bollards off the pavement. There were also some small fires lit.
Police said the violence before the match appeared to be planned.
"It looks like there has been some planned trouble from fans," a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.
A 44-year-old man was in a stable condition in hospital after being stabbed in the chest, police said.
West Ham won the League Cup second round match 3-1 after extra time.
Millwall, who despite the best efforts of successive club officials to kick-out trouble makers, have long been infamous for the violent conduct of some of their fans.
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