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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham branded as ‘animals’ by Fiorentina president after Europa Conference League final loss

Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso branded West Ham as “animals” after losing the Europa Conference League final.

Jarrod Bowen scored a last-minute winner to end a 43-year wait for a major trophy for the east London club.

It was an ill-tempered affair both on and off the pitch in Prague with sixteen arrests made prior to kick-off after Fiorentina supporters attacked a group of West Ham fans.

Czech police confirmed three people were injured in the incident, with one police officer attacked.

Fiorentina's Cristiano Biraghi was hit by an object thrown from the crowd (REUTERS)

La Viola captain Cristiano Biraghi was during the game struck with a flying object thrown from the stands and required treatment, with West Ham strongly condemning the incident.

Hammers fans following the game clashed with riot police in the Czech capital after police officers tried to confiscate a flare from supporters gathered in the Old Town area of the city.

Police remove a flare from West Ham fans last night (PA Wire)

Speaking to Italian media after the game, Commisso said: “There have been episodes on the pitch where the referee had to make the difference.

“[Luka] Jovic came out with a broken nose, Biraghi with a cut on his head.

“I spoke to the president of the Premier League, those of West Ham are animals in the way they treated ours.

“It’s not right.”

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