According to football pundit Robbie Savage, the players of West Ham United should not be held responsible for the “absolutely shocking” incidents that occurred after their victory in the Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar, writes the WHZ.
Following the match, a group of AZ Alkmaar fans attacked an area where the friends and families of the West Ham players were present, prompting the Hammers’ players, including Michail Antonio, Flynn Downes, and Said Benrahma, to step in and intervene in the confrontations.
Expressing his disbelief in his regular column for the Daily Mirror newspaper, Savage expressed his shock at the fact that the families of West Ham United players were subjected to such “senseless violence”.
Savage said: “Nobody in their right mind should blame West Ham players for getting involved in the shocking scenes of their families and friends being ambushed by hooligans in Alkmaar.
“If you see your loved ones or mates being attacked, it’s human nature to step in and try and protect them.
“It’s absolutely shocking that they were subjected to such mindless violence and that the authorities didn’t seem to do anything to stop it.”