Anderlecht apologized after their fans lit torches and threw seats at West Ham supporters during their 2-1 Europa League defeat at the London Stadium on Thursday.
Police had to intervene to separate the two groups of supporters and the Belgian side said the behavior of their fans was unacceptable. One Anderlecht fan was held back by security after running onto the pitch.
“The club will take this up with the supporters because we do not tolerate this type of behaviour, either at home or away,” an Anderlecht spokesman said. “We will discuss it with the fans and certainly with UEFA and we strongly condemn this. We would like to apologize to West Ham for this behaviour.”
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David Moyes praised Anderlecht’s response. “It’s very nice of the club to come out and say it,” said the West Ham manager. “A lot of credit to them. I think everyone’s focus is taken away when there are issues with the audience in some way. It’s the players’ job to deal with that and I thought they did.
“We’re in a different society now, a different world and that’s not what any football club wants to be associated with.”
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