Arsene Wenger: 'No hooligan issue in English football'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 28 October 2016

Arsene Wenger claims that English football does not have a hooligan problem and instead calls for safe standing to now be fully implemented in stadia across the land.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has condemned the behaviour of a certain section of West Ham United supporters, but insisted that English football does not have a problem when it comes to hooliganism.

The Hammers' EFL Cup win over rivals Chelsea in midweek was marred by violent scenes at the end of the match at the London Stadium, in which a number of fans from both sides attempted to square up.

Around 200 West Ham supporters are reportedly facing life bans from football as a result of the latest fracas at the club's new Stratford home, while the Metropolitan Police are also carrying out an investigation as they continue to make arrests.

Wenger, who has managed in English football for the past two decades, is confident that the country does not have any sort of hooligan problem and has even called for safe standing to be implemented inside stadia.

"You cannot say 200 people is a general problem in the country," he told reporters. "Hopefully West Ham will get rid of the problem very quickly. I am in favour of the resurgence of standing behind the goals and that is not a good advert to come back to standing.

"I feel the closer you are to a position of a player the more passionate it is. It would enable you to have lower prices as you would have more spectators and maybe a more passionate atmosphere."

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew, who spent three years in charge of the Hammers, was among those to criticise the "mindless thugs" who he says have once again let the club down.