Anderlecht fans launch flares and seats as they pull apart West Ham stadium

Police were forced to intervene after videos emerged of Anderlecht fans throwing flares and ripping up seats at the London Stadium.

The Belgian side had travelled to London to face West Ham in the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening. However, the clash quickly turned sour as violence erupted and rows of officers stood between fans of the two clubs as they fought in the stands.

One video shared on social media showed flares being launched from the away end towards the Hammers fans. One flare ended up on the pitch – and play had to be paused when a pitch invader stole the ball from West Ham's Alphonse Areola.

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The Belgian club has condemned the violence in London, and they said: "We do not tolerate that behaviour in our stadium or away and we will take it up with the fans and UEFA. We apologise to West Ham."

Anderlecht fans were kept behind after the game – a decision that is believed to have been made for their safety.

Police were injured in the clashes, with one policeman suffering head injuries after being hit with a chair and another suffered arm injuries as a result of the Anderlecht fans.

What do you think of the footage of the Anderlecht fans? Let us know in the comments section

West Ham won the clash 2-1, despite a late scare from the Belgian who converted an 89th-minute penalty to give the Hammers a scare.

After the game, David Moyes said: "The players' job is to get on with it, and I thought they did. The more we look at it, we don't want any trouble. We're in a different society and a different world now and it's not what any football club wants to have connected to them, and I certainly don't want that at West Ham."

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