FOOTY WAR
West Ham fans ambushed by Fiorentina ultras with chairs & metal bars in ‘unprovoked’ brawl ahead of Europa final
WEST Ham fans were ambushed by Fiorentina ultras armed with chairs and metal bars today in what's being called an unprovoked brawl.
Black-clad hooligans in hoodies and masks can be seen hurling chairs and flares toward a Prague bar full of Irons fans.
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Around 300 West Ham supporters, including families, had been drinking at the pub when they were ambushed by a gang of 100 yobs brandishing chains, belts, and bottles.
The fans are among 20,000 who are in the Czech Republic for the Europa Conference League final which kicked off at Slavia Prague's Eden Arena at 9pm local time.
Paul Mason, 46, from Chelmsford, was one of the many who watched the horror unfold today.
He told The Sun: “It just came out of nowhere. It was like an ambush.
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"We saw about 100 of them run around the corner - nobody had any idea what was going on at first.
“We didn’t even realise they were Fiorentina fans at first because they were all in black.
"They started kicking and punching whoever they could see - it was absolute chaos. I saw a few of them with chains and bottles too.
“It was atrocious – these fans were just happily having a drink and enjoying themselves.
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"It was completely unprovoked.”
One West Ham fan who watched the horror unfold told : "They targeted a group and attacked them quite violently then ran off before anyone could react.
"It was completely unprovoked. They were all ultras dressed in black. It was pretty grim."
Pensioners are thought to have been raced to hospital after the attack - as Italian hooligans hurled missiles at them outside a bar in Prague.
Another fan suffered cuts and bruises after being caught in the onslaught at the Tek-ila Tek-ila bar in the city's famous Old Town.
More than 30 people were detained after violence broke out, cops said.
Hammers supporters had been enjoying the sunshine as the club seeks to secure its first major trophy for 43 years.
But the scenes turned nasty when dozens of hooligans began attacking the pub - which had a banner outside that read: "Forever Blowing Bubbles".
Footage from multiple angles shows the gang descending on the bar, hurling chairs, throwing flares and fireworks, and wielding clubs and metal bars.
In the clips, a loud explosion can be heard as a bright flash is seen outside the bar amid a group of West Ham fans.
Smoke can be seen rising from the pub as the street was left covered in broken glass.
It was atrocious – these fans were just happily having a drink and enjoying themselves. It was completely unprovoked.
Paul Mason
Cops hurled stun grenades inside the bar while Hammers fans desperately tried to defend against the onslaught.
Czech police in riot gear could be seen chasing down groups of Italian hooligans as they attempted to flee.
A 17-year-old who was drinking outside the Tek-ila Tek-ila bar in Prague said Fiorentina fans came around the corner "trying to give it large".
"We were all standing here, just having a glass," he said.
"And they all come around the corner, trying to give it large.
"We had done nothing wrong."
He said that the Italian fans had "chains and belt buckles".
"They were throwing flares and firecrackers," he said.
"They had chains and belt buckles and everything. They come here, try giving it, and then they ran down the road."
Another witness told The Sun: “The mob attacked a couple of bars before police clocked on to them.
"A load of undercovers got hold of them after they tried to attack another boozer.
“They all tried to attack a group of West Ham fans, but they were quickly floored by the police.
“The ultras didn’t want to stay and fight anyone. It was just a load of scumbags in black throwing chairs.”
He added: “The atmosphere has been peaceful all day and both sets of fans have got on.
"Fiorentina, like many European clubs, has that hardcore element and this is what we’ve seen.”
Cops confirmed they arrested 16 Italian fans after the attack on the pub in Rytířská Street.
The ultras didn’t want to stay and fight anyone. It was just a load of scumbags in black throwing chairs.
Witness
John Brownlie, a retired plumber from Cambridge, told : "From nowhere about 100 men with chains, belts, bottles, and flares came round the street corner, and almost pushed over a lady and her baby in a pushchair.
"The woman was quickly rushed inside to the bar, with her child, but two stun grenades were thrown in there, and caused some fire damage.
"This caused a lot of us to come out of the bar to find out what was going on, and then they started attacking us, punching and kicking us.
"When they ran, which would've been probably a minute later, we ran after them but the police blocked us.
"They were just cowards. West Ham fans didn't do anything wrong. This was an ambush."
One fan said his pals had ended up in hospital after the clash.
He said: "Three of our mates (were injured), out of all of this lot there were five. Three of them were our mates. They've gone to hospital."
He added that one of his friends was "quite badly" injured with a "massive cut" on his head.
Journalism student Alfie Mulligan posted on Twitter: "Just been stood in a lovely bar in Prague when 50-plus Fiorentina fans come around the corner shooting fireworks, armed with batons… it 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."
He added: "Shambolic scenes from the Fiorentina support. I’ve never been so scared in my life.
"Italian ultras. More like cowards. Completely unprovoked."
In a statement, Czech cops said: "Italy fans attacked West Ham fans in a bar in Rytířská Street, injuring three.
"One policeman was also attacked.
";We have restricted the personal freedom of 16 people and we are currently investigating the whole incident."
Amid the game this evening, cups were thrown at a Fiorentina star from the West Ham end of the stadium.
Nicolas Gonzalez was in a heap on the floor when cups were thrown towards the star.
The Argentine fell to the floor after an alleged elbow from Declan Rice.
But while on the deck, BT Sport commentators pointed out that plastic cups appeared to be thrown from the West Ham end.
The pub brawl comes after West Ham fans were attacked during their semi-final clash with Ak Alkmaar.
Hooligans from the Dutch side tore down a gate and charged a stand that contained Irons players' families.
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And the incident saw West Ham fan Chris "Knollys" Knoll face off against a horde of ultras nearly singled handedly - earning him hero status.
Knollsy has already arrived in Prague for the final.
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