A Chelsea supporter has described a chaotic and frightening experience at the London Stadium during the recent match against West Ham United, vowing never to return to the venue. The fan, who attended the game, cited poor stewarding, lack of communication from police, and a tense atmosphere that escalated into violence.
The supporter noted that while the first half was relatively well-behaved, problems emerged after he moved to a lower tier at half-time where stewards were not checking tickets. He described West Ham fans near the segregation area as more interested in abusing Chelsea supporters than watching the game, even with their team leading 2-0. The fan said he left five minutes before the final whistle to avoid a fight that broke out in his section.
Criticising the stewards as unskilled in crowd management, the fan highlighted a lack of communication as a key issue. He recounted arriving at Stratford an hour before kick-off and encountering a bottleneck near a barrier where fans from both sides were funnelled together. Stewards shouted without direction, and police eventually arrived but only exacerbated the situation by shouting for people to go back when movement was impossible. The fan admitted fearing for his safety and said Hillsborough crossed his mind.
The supporter also revealed that a friend was not allowed into the stadium until half-time due to the disorganisation. While he regularly attends Chelsea away games, he stated he will not return to the London Stadium, describing the communication and organisation as 'disgraceful'.
