Like the majority of true West Ham fans, a few things have saddened me coming out of Sunday’s trip to White Hart Lane. I can honestly say that the behaviour of the minority is an embarrassment and something that the club has handled in the correct manner.
Interestingly though, some of the judgmental, non-football fans on the street seem to have taken it upon themselves to immediately castigate anyone with a link to West Ham. For example, I have had various people contact me via social media to tell me that myself, and all fellow West Ham fans, are a disgrace. Not true. It’s the minority. Whilst the media have a job to report the news, would a more balanced approach not be beneficial? If your normal, everyday, man or woman on the street reads a headline stating ‘West Ham Fans In Sick Nazi Chant’ then unfortunately some of them will tar all Hammers with the same brush. Yes, that minority should not have even contemplated the songs, but at the same time how can ALL West Ham fans be subjected to being called racist or anti-semitic? (Two insults and accusations I’ve been levelled with since Sunday despite being in Dorset when the game was being played)
 
Basically, what I’m saying is simple.
I don’t, on any level, agree with the chants at the weekend.
I don’t believe that it would be a good idea, as suggested by some West Ham fans, to start choruses of ‘We’ll sing what we want’ against Chelsea. We’re going to be under a media microscope, good behaviour is a must.
I do feel the media hasn’t put much of a balanced argument across. I’ve used the word ‘minority’ a lot in this article, but it was only a few West Ham fans starting these chants.
On talking to a Spurs season ticket holder today for the first time since the game, his opinion was interesting and somewhat remarkable.
“I’m sure it was meant as banter but it went too far. Though if I’m honest, we’ve sang worse about Sol Campbell, and there were bad taste songs from us as well that didn’t get reported on the news”
There is no winner in an incident or argument such as this. I hold my head low in shame at the ones who went too far, but also high in pride at being one of the many, many great West Ham fans who know when to stop and what levels of decency should be adhered to.
I totally agree I wrote a similar article that’s on here
*only a few West Ham fans starting these chants*
Shocking underestimation of the facts. If only a few made hissing noises, it would not have been heard around a football stadium. Hissing is less audibile then general speech so how can it travel through a stadium. Really think about it. Fact is that anti-semitic chants were as loud, if not louder, than those pro-west ham.
Your apparent qoute from the spurs fan is completely wrong. Abusing an ex-player is no way similiar to pro-hilter songs AND spurs fans were heavily criticised in the media, leading to pictures of individuals being published in the Metro and arrests being made. THFC then went on to instill webcams on their own stewards in every game which Sol Campbell featured. The chants stopped because of that pro-active approach.
Fact is that West Ham supporters (not all but certainly more than few) have been chanting anti-semitic songs for years and barely any action has been taken against them by your own club. It has been reported by West Ham supporting Journo’s themselves that chants like this have occured in games where Spurs aren’t even featured. It’s digusting chants like Hitler’s coming to get you from hundreds (not few) of West Hams which caused many spurs fans to refer to themselves as yids as show defiance.
I don’t believe all West Ham’s to be racists and every club has an element of this kind of followers but it’s more of a problem at West Ham than the vast majority of other clubs, otherwise spurs would be reporting away fans at every home game.
You wish to stop being associated with this crap, then start looking closer to home than blaming the media for correctly reporting the facts.
Hiya mate,
Tottenham season ticket holder here too.
Just wanted to say, I think the slightly aggressive and misleading headlines towards West Ham have been ridiculously harsh. Much in the same way the press jumped on the fuss around Tottenham using “Yid” as a badge of honour, and then that attention-whore chap from the Society Of Black Lawyers turning it into the N-word. Also, add to that the current climate of racist issues recently (thanks, Chelsea), the press need to be seen to be jumping on the bandwagon. It casts a biased view.
Ironic though, as last time I chcecked, the Daily Mail loves putting a race-slant on all their stories!
However, whilst I appreciate you guys have to stick up for, and rightly defend, yourselves, it was much more than a “minority” of fans. There was a good proportion of an already packed away end starting and singing these chants. I’m not trying to condemn, but the chants were audible by most. Much like the previously mentioned Sol Campbell chant… I utterly and infinitely detest the guy, but I disagreed with the content of the chant, and didn’t join in. It was always said a “minority” of fans were doing it, but it was more than a minority.
I will say though, even though it doesn’t make the use of the other chants any better, the reports of the gas chamber hissing noises may be off the mark, as I personally thought your fans were actually saying “shhhh” during a moment of silence. So, I’ll stick up for you in that case.
Though, the Hitler chants, the support of Lazio and our fans getting attacked/stabbed (which were the loudest of the unnecessary chants) were just plain wrong.
Anyway, 3-1.
Lol.
What has angered me more, more than the vile behaviour on Sunday, is the fact that many fans on various forums are trying to cover it up, by saying the hissing noises were shhhhhhing noises due to it being quiet.What a load of bull,every year since I can remember West Ham fans have made the hisssing noise, so why should Sunday be any different?
This article is one of the best i’ve read since it happened, the author is 100% correct and knows exactly what went on.
I myself was there and was appauled by West Ham fans..
What makes me laugh is all this Jew bashing, when your owner and a current player is very much Jewish.. Also West Ham has a large Jewish following. These idiots are beyond pathetic.. Gloriying Hitler?? do none of these idiots know what Hitler did to the East End during the war??
Mind you we shouldn’t be surprised, it’s not the first time the fans have let the club down, those sickening songs aimed at Glenn Roeder while his wife and family were in the crowd was equally as disgusting.
I’m sure the Olympic comittee would love their ground to be occupied by Anti -Semitic, racists.. Especiall in Stratford..
Unfortunately it was quite a majority who sang “Jermaine Defoe/Gareth Bale, your a C***, ….”
and infront of an audience of women, boys and girls”
While understanding your disappointment as you’re a true fan, you’re lot of travelling “fans” are a load of dispicable morons
Chants about Sol Campbell who went from Spurs to Arsenal and chants about Hitler/Holocaust/stabbings are never comparable
I agree completely, I was however quoting a Tottenham season ticket holder
Don’t want to be judged along with the other Holocaust and Hitler- worshiping WH fans?
Do something about it. Film them and report them to the police.
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