Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi had to receive treatment and be bandaged up after suffering a head wound caused by an object thrown from a West Ham supporter during the Europa Conference League final.
Supporters littered the pitch with plastic cups on numerous occasions in the first half, including when Nicolas Gonzalez went to ground clutching his face after a coming together with Declan Rice and when Biraghi came across to take set-pieces by the West Ham end.
The left-back was eventually hit with an object as he prepared to take a set-piece 10 minutes before half-time. He applauded West Ham fans sarcastically and gave them the thumbs up before being treated by Fiorentina’s medical personnel.
A purple bandage was applied to Biraghi’s head as blood poured down the back of his head and the referee paused the game as he was treated.
West Ham’s players implored their supporters to calm down and behave themselves before a message was read out over the PA system urging fans to “respect the players”.
“Attention please, this is an important security announcement,” the announcer said. “Please stop throwing objects on to the pitch immediately. Please respect the players and officials. Thank you!”
West Ham supporters grew increasingly frustrated with the decisions made by referee Carlos del Cerro Grande and chanted that he was “not fit to referee” minutes before Biraghi was struck.
It followed violent clashes between sets of fans earlier in the day near Prague’s Old Town Square, in which 16 fans were arrested by Czech police after three were left with injuries.
“Italy fans attacked West Ham fans in a bar on Rytirska street, injuring three,” the police force wrote on Twitter. “One policeman was also attacked. We have restricted the personal freedom of 16 people and we are currently investigating the whole incident.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/O54JrT0
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