Hooligans Run Riot In Ohio
"Green Street" and "The Firm", it´s no accident that two of the best films ever made about football hooligans should feature West Ham United Football Club.
If you re off to the DVD shop the latter is the better, it´s got the likes of Gary Oldman, Phil Mitchell and big Jim McDonald from Coronation Street in early acting debuts - each one delivering memorable roles as unhinged hoolies.
But that´s acting. It seems like the real life version of West Ham´s notorious ICF (Inter City Firm) has been up to no good recently, in America of all places.
Things kicked off at half-time when the Hammers were meeting Ohio side Columbus Crew for a summer friendly on Sunday. A group of supporters from the east London club were seen entering the Columbus crowd section before unleashing all sorts of unpleasantness - throwing punches, kicks and creating general mayhem.
Shortly afterwards some West Ham fans unfurled a banner in the stadium's south end of the ground: "ICF, 30 Years Undefeated".
"We just went over for some tea and crumpets and the Crew fans got mad," one West Ham supporter was quoted as saying.
To American supporters, who are happily unused to crowd violence of any sort, it must have been quite a shock. Even a US-based Englishman in the crowd was left staggered by the happenings.
Arsenal fan Peter Witham said he was on his way to the loos when he got hit with chemical irritant used by police to break up the melee.
"I've never experienced anything like that in my life and I've been going to English Premier League games for forever," he said.
Bodog go 8/1 that West Ham will be relegated this season. Now there´s something that would upset the natives. Check out Bodog Sport for more.
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