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Declan Rice and West Ham fans troll Lyon; stadium gets destroyed in ‘very violent scenes’

Declan Rice and West Ham fans troll Lyon while the stadium gets destroyed in ‘very violent scenes’ after Thursday night’s match.

The Hammers sensational Europa League journey continues, booking their place in the semi-finals of the competition after stunning their French opponents 3-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.

Moussa Dembele’s wink after drawing the foul which saw Aaron Cresswell sent off in the first encounter hadn’t gone unnoticed by the West Ham manager or his players.

A tweet was issued from Lyon’s official Twitter account, responding to a Europa League post asking who would make the final four, they said: “Are you really asking like there’s a chance we don’t go through?”

“Those things come back to bite you,” Declan Rice said when talking to the media after the game.

“There were a few incentives tonight. Dembele winking at the camera in the first leg and then their Twitter admin saying they can’t see how they wouldn’t get through.

“We stayed quiet, put in a performance and now West Ham are in the semis.”

Moyes’ side will take on Eintracht Frankfurt, who surprised everyone with an upset against Barcelona, in their first appearance at this stage of a major European competition since overcoming the same opposition in the last four of the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

“It feels very, very special,” added Rice. “For all the fans it is such a great night. If you can’t get up for these games you shouldn’t be playing football. The roar [from the fans] for the warm up was spine tingling. It gives you a fire in your stomach to go and perform.”

On facing Frankfurt next, he added: “For them to beat Barca, they are a top side. We will be ready for whatever. We know what we want and that is reach the final.”

Lyon fans were clearly fuming that their side had crashed out of the Europa League and, according to the BBC, there was a sour end to the game as things got nasty after the full time whistle.

Supporters were seen attempting to get onto the pitch after the game, smashing up the barriers and lighting fires in the stands as West Ham fans sang “Au Revoir”.

“I have to tell you there are one or two unpleasant scenes behind the goal to our left with some Lyon fans trying to get onto the pitch and cause a bit of mayhem – the stewards doing their best to keep them at bay,” BT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher said as the ugly scenes unfolded. “But they’re letting their frustrations boil over. But this is West Ham’s night in a massive way.

“We hope it’s a peaceful night. The Lyon fans do not seem to be taking it that well. They came here expecting to see their side go through and not taken apart like that. But what a night for West Ham United.”

talkSPORT’s in-ground correspondent, Ian Abrahams said: “Well the reaction from the West Ham fans is obviously overjoyed, but not the Lyon fans, we have a bit of a problem now emerging at both ends behind the goals.

“Behind one goal there was basically barriers separating the fans from the pitch and those barriers have now been pushed up against the police.

“One of the barriers have been pushed over and two flares have been lit and now the other end to replicate that, again the fans have jumped over the initial hoardings and are now pushing against the metal barriers to try and get to the police.

“The Lyon fans are really not happy about the situation tonight. A couple of fans are falling over amongst the hoardings as they try to get on the pitch.”

Europa League semi-final draw
Atalanta vs Rangers
West Ham vs Eintracht Frankfurt

West Ham manger David Moyes told BT Sport:

“I’m immensely proud of the players and the performance and probably more so, when you look back, of the performance in the second-half at the London Stadium last week when we were down to 10 men, which looked a really poor decision.

“The players stuck at it, never gave up, got a goal in front before we conceded. I don’t think anyone, when they were putting questions to me earlier, thought we were going to make it tonight.

“We have a really great group of lads, I’m lucky. They have been great in the time I have been here and the journey in two years from trying to avoid relegation – and now we are talking about getting to the semi-final of a major European tournament. It is fabulous and we are all going to look forward to it.

“It is huge what we have done in two years. We have not won any trophies yet but we are trying to compete and to qualify for European football again, if we can.

“To be getting to these latter stages, we have beaten Seville and Lyon now since getting through the group stages, big clubs that are used to European football.

“But we go again, you don’t win anything for tonight but it was a big moment for us. Winning 3-0 away from home in Europe – a really good result.”

Twitter users reacted as Declan Rice and West Ham fans troll Lyon while the stadium gets destroyed in ‘very violent scenes’…

@TEKKS84: Lyon fans kept trying to throw things at Antonio and rice when they left the pitch even though there is a huge net in the way, a net that is there in front of them in every game.

@Sammy_dodgerx: Couldn’t hack it 😂😂😂😂

@EmenaIo: Says a lot about French football that their fans are focused making banners mid game.

@Jono9o9: Stay classy lads ⚒️⚒️

@LBACSimon: Don’t the police give out any sentences over there? Must be the only reason they are always kicking off.

@am_petrovic: Last Nov I went to Lyon v Marseilles which was abandoned after 5 mins because a Lyon fan threw a bottle at a players head. No refunds given because @OL_English have a clause in their terms and conditions about matches getting abandoned because they know what their fans are like!

@neilatkins2: Where’s the mass condemnation?? We’ll wait ?? Oh there not English so never mind then 🙄

@djandymyers: What the heck are those Lyon fans doing? They’re bat shit crazy them lot 🤯

@WestHam_Way: DEC I LOVE YOU

@rickwhufc: 😂😂 Dec u absolute ledge!! 😂😂⚒🫧

@TheCole01: You Legend! I can’t believe this just happened. We are actually in the semi finals! Unbelievable! COYI

@HammerStu76: That performance, goal celebration and post match interview….. Hero mate, we all love ya 👊❤️🍻⚒️⚒️⚒️

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