Connect with us

English Premier League

Granit Xhaka involved in dispute with taunting fans as West Ham beat Sunderland 3-1

Granit Xhaka got involved in a dispute with some taunting fans as West Ham beat Sunderland 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.

As the game towards the end, both Sunderland and West Ham struck the woodwork.

Sunderland club captain Granit Xhaka was seen sitting among the Black Cats substitutes, and had an argument with a West Ham supporter. A few stewards have headed over to the area with the game stopped.

A fan sitting close by has told SunSport that confrontation started after Nordi Mukiele was subbed off and “obviously p***** off”, throwing his hands in the air then having a moan at manager Regis Le Bris.

The fan says: “Everyone’s going ‘Whey! Whey!’ and giving it to him, ‘dry your eyes, mate’ – like we always do it to be fair, being so close.

“Then he sort of turned around, went back towards the pitch and had a pop at the manager.

“That got another ‘Whey!’ again, a bigger roar. He’s turning around all the time, we’ve obviously rattled him.

“Then Xhaka‘s turned around because he’s sitting two or three rows behind the dugout and between us.

“He’s turned around and started giving it to one of my mates who was sitting just in front, basically going ‘show some respect, show some respect’ – quite ironic considering [Mukiele] just had a pop at his own manager.

“Everyone then starts giving it to Xhaka, telling him to wind his neck in.

“Another guy came [towards the dugout] to calm it down.

“Then Xhaka started picking on him – he wasn’t doing anything, he’s just saying ‘stop, stop’ to Xhaka.

“And then Xhaka started calling him out saying, ‘I’ll see you outside, I’ll see you outside.’

“Then as he was heading down the tunnel after the game finished he was still going to the guy, ‘I’ll see you outside’.

“It was all Xhaka, complete head loss. The geezer’s on 100 grand a week getting rattled by absolute nobodies, just giving it the big ‘un. “It was all on him.”

Just 13 minutes in, the Hammers lead when Jarrod Bowen sent the ball into the middle from the right with Crysencio Summerville sending his header into the back of the net from six yards out. West Ham fans chanted ‘how s**t must you be, we’re winning at home’.

The on the half an hour mark, Ollie Scarles got into the penalty area, Trai Hume stuck out a leg, the referee awarded a penalty, with Jarrod Bowen scoring.

Then just before half time, Mateus Fernandes made it 3-0 to West Ham with a stunning strike, Robin Roefs, at full stretch, unable to keep it out.

It meant West Ham have scored three goals in the first half of a Premier League game for nearly three years, since a 4-0 win at Bournemouth in April 2023.

On 66 minutes, the unmarked Brian Brobbey got one back for Sunderland following a first-time cross in from Nordi Mukiele.

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris speaking to BBC Match of the Day:

“They were better than us, they showed good quality, they started better, more aggressiveness and more composure with the ball. We were the opposite.

“The balance went in their favour at the biggening and their scored, it was well deserved.

“Our reaction in the second half was a bit better, we tried to change the dynamic of the game. We scored once, we have the opportunity to score the second but they were simply better than us. We have to accept it.”

Why did you not get going today?

“It’s tough to say, because probably there are multiple reasons. At least it shows that when you are not at the level that the league will punish you.

“[We need to show] Humility, hard work, accept the tough period. We haven’t experienced this much, but we are still a newly promoted side and it is normal to have this kind of experience. Don’t get too emotional, stay composed, not too high and not too low and move forward.”

On Granit Xhaka’s absence:

“It’s ankle injury, he has a period of rest and see how long he will be.”

On Xhaka’s altercation with fans behind the dugout:

“I don’t know really [what happened], it’s always a shame when something like that happens, but I don’t know.”

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to TNT Sports:

“I always expect the best! I am always positive that we can improve. The players are starting to connect better, the combinations and passing are starting to flow and click. I am positive we have things still to improve. We are starting to have bodies in the box, it’s what we need for the future.

“I was really happy when the ball hit the net, it’s not important who does it, as long as we as a team achieve what we want.

On three wins on the bounce:

“It helps the week, but football is in the present, so we have to think about what is coming next.

“Thank you to our fans, it was amazing, the connections start to happen which really helps the boys. We keep going.

On potential transfer incomings:

“The club is working, we have one week to go. We still need to rebalance the squad better so we can be more competitive and have more options, because there are a lot of games.”


Here’s how fans reacted after Granit Xhaka got involved in a dispute with taunting fans as West Ham beat Sunderland 3-1…

@anyachappellxx: xhaka arguing with the west ham fans has genuinely been the highlight of the game 😭

@SaucyCHO: what a fucking game this has been mavropanos and alderete scrapping while the games on, xhaka scrapping fans in the stands and west ham somehow winning 3-1

@DanHull22: Xhaka showing the most fight and he’s not even playing #safc

@_SamCunningham: This West Ham game is nuts 🤣 got Xhaka and other team mates arguing with West Han fans from the bench & then 2 players squaring upto each other on the goal line that nearly leads to a West Ham Goal 🤣🤣

@WarrickHunt73: Bairn’s crying their eyes out and the dad’s more interested in trying to wind up Xhaka, embarrassing

@CraigHa80224121: West ham fan doing the wanker sign to xhaka whilst his baby is crying on his arm. Absolute embarrassment of a man. West ham fans for you. Truly hope they get relegated this season. Can’t stand them

@patrickscottlad: Xhaka out injured and still showed more fight than any of them on the pitch. Captain down and they wilted like spinach. Time to fuck off the championship plodders. Hume, Mayenda, Isidor etc. Get them shipped out.

@davis0688: Unless their fan has said something really bad, Xhaka arguing with them is just a dreadful look. That, plus the game and Mukeile’s reaction just gives off lost the plot vibes. Shocking from Regis Le Bris from the off. Deserved what we got and could easily have been worse #safc

@S4fcNi4ll: 1st half absolutely embarrassing. 2nd half better but still not good enough. Xhaka starting on a west ham fan sums up today and showed more fight than most on the pitch. Burnley at home we need to see a proper performance. No MOTM today #SAFC

@JacobNLPE: Wow, what a game. We had a West Ham win, lots of drama, woodwork hit at both ends, Xhaka kicking off at the fans, Mukiele kicking off at his coaches, goal line saves. Most importantly, all three points.

@PaulosEFC: I’m glad Xhaka stood up to a divvy fan. Why should anyone sit there listening to abuse and not give it back or sort the idiot out.

Related Topics
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in English Premier League