West Ham's David Moyes red carded for KICKING the ball at home ballboy

‘I apologise… but he threw it back very softly’: West Ham boss David Moyes red carded after BOOTING ball at Eintracht Frankfurt ballboy in moment of madness during Europa League semi defeat

  • David Moyes was shown the red card for kicking the ball at a ballboy on Thursday
  • The West Ham boss was annoyed during his side’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt 
  • The Hammers lost 1-0 on the night, 3-1 on aggregate against the German side 
  • At one point a ballboy threw the ball to Moyes softly and he kicked it back angrily
  • After the match, the ex-Manchester United manager apologised for his actions 

David Moyes apologised after he was red carded for booting the ball at a ballboy in anger as West Ham’s European dreams went up in smoke in Frankfurt on Thursday night.

Trailing 2-1 from last week’s first leg, the Hammers’ job was made even harder in Germany when Aaron Cresswell carelessly earned himself a red card after 19 minutes.

Rafael Santos Borre secured Eintracht Frankfurt a 1-0 win on the night, giving the German side a 3-1 win on aggregate and setting up a Europa League final against Rangers.

David Moyes (centre) was red carded for kicking the ball at a ballboy in a Europa League tie

Moyes’ West Ham side were beaten 1-0 on the night, 3-1 on aggregate against Eintracht Frankfurt in their Europa League semi-final second leg in Germany on Thursday evening

Emotions boiled over at points, especially after Moyes received his marching orders (above)

Moyes’ meltdown towards the end of the match summed up a sorry night for West Ham, with captain Declan Rice describing the defeat as a ‘gutting’ loss afterwards.

It means West Ham will now not secure Champions League football for next season, and Moyes said: ‘Difficult, disappointed, but extremely proud of the players, how we played with 10 men. We tried, we created chances, but we congratulate Frankfurt. We give them our best wishes.

‘I kicked a ball back at the ballboy. I apologise for that but he threw it back very softly at me. I just feel disappointment. 

‘We’ve played better teams than Frankfurt. We probably lost the game in the first 30 seconds at the London Stadium and have been chasing it ever since. I don’t know if I’ve enjoyed the officiating but I’ve enjoyed being in the competition.’

A pitch invasion from thousands of Frankfurt fans at full-time saw West Ham players have to escape the pitch, leaving them unable to thank their travelling support.

Moyes was particularly frustrated with a ballboy (holding ball) taking his time to return the ball

After throwing it back very softly at Moyes, the Scot lost his temper and booted it back at him

Immediately several home substitutes jumped off the bench to confront Moyes for his actions

Moyes wasn’t happy with how Frankfurt’s bench acted during the game, saying the fourth official warned him for leaving his technical area once whereas they burst out of theirs freely.

‘I’m really disappointed with the reaction of the bench,’ the manager said of Cresswell’s red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. ‘You don’t react in that way. I hope my bench wouldn’t.’ 

On the sending off itself, Moyes added: ‘Aaron gave the referee a decision to make.’

Failure to qualify for the Champions League could have repercussions for Rice’s future. 

The England international, who is contracted until 2024, with the option of an additional year, is a wanted man and West Ham’s resolve will be tested in the summer.

The former Manchester United boss criticised the referee’s performance after the match

‘Gutted,’ Rice said. ‘We’re gutted in there. We’ve come so far as a group. We’re not the biggest of squads to keep playing week in, week out, over 50 games a season after last year.

‘We’re proud as well to go down to 10 men and put in that shift. Many teams will go away and lose three and four. The way we still tried to defend and get forward as well, with a man less, emphasises everything about what West Ham is about.

‘We’re gutted but proud of everything. Of course they’re a good side but no way they’re better than what Sevilla or Lyon were. We’ve come so far. No one expected West Ham to be here.

‘I’m so proud of everyone. The boys went out on a high, even though we lost. In the end it’s a real gutter. They’re celebrating, I have to listen to that, it’s not nice.’

Vladimir Coufal added: ‘After 20 minutes we conceded the red card. That completely changed our game plan. It was difficult for us. We tried to do our maximum. They played like a big team. They beat us. We wish them luck for the final.’  

Frankfurt supporters invaded the pitch and sat on the goalposts in joyous scenes at the end




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