A bizarre claim that police and security were called to the West Ham dressing room after the 3-0 defeat to Sunderland have been addressed by a top Hammers insider.
West Ham got the new Premier League season off to a disastrous start by losing 3-0 to newly-promoted Sunderland.
Graham Potter’s Hammers side went in 0-0 at half-time and were marginally the better side in the first half.
The second half was a complete disaster-class from Potter and West Ham as they shipped three terrible goals to the Black Cats.
The result piles the pressure on Potter already after he won just five of his 19 games in charge last season.
That run stretches to five in 20 now after a deeply concerning season opener in the north east.
Stadium of Fright for West Ham after opening day defeat
It was made all the more worrying by reports emerging from an account purporting to be a journalist reporting on events at the Stadium of Light.
The claims of a dramatic twist to proceedings after the first match of the new campaign spread like wildfire on social media.
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It was stated that police and security were called to the West Ham changing room after the defeat to Sunderland.
The claim stated officers and security locked down the away dressing room occupied by West Ham for over 45 minutes after the full-time whistle.
Potter carried out his post-match interview with Sky Sports where he criticised his team’s unacceptably bad second half performance.
West Ham head coach Graham Potter and striker Niclas Fullkrug leave the pitch dejected after defeat to Sunderland
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Top insider responds to claim ‘police were called to West Ham dressing room’ after Sunderland defeat
An account under the name Gianluca Chianti claims to be a consultant for Reuters and the Associated Press who is the Head Of European Sports at The Eco – according to his social media bio.
Reporting to his 11,000 followers on X, Chianti claims no arrests were made after the ‘minor incident’.
He then stated the team coach is said to have departed without Graham Potter aboard.
“On site security and police called to away dressing room in Stadium Of Light, confirmed by in stadium presence,” Chianti claims.
“West Ham are the away team who have just been defeated 3-0 in their first Premier League game to the hosts, Sunderland.
“Officials confirm no arrests made for “minor incident” in Sunderland AFC stadium post game.
“West Ham team coach departs without manager Graham Potter onboard.
“No indication now if scheduled or not. We’ve reached out to both clubs for comment.
“Stadium Security alerted to incident on site post game. In conjunction with procedures authorities were called who reported three parties spoken to with no need to for any further action. Security closed matter at 5.50pm. No further comms to be made.”
The claims have seen speculation and rumour spread quickly across social media.
Given that West Ham’s dressing room was a difficult place to be last season, it is easy to see why some fans might believe the claims.
Altercations between players and former manager Julen Lopetegui made big headlines last term.
Potter did not look pleased in his post-match interviews, as you would expect. And he has had run-ins with a number of Hammers players too since taking over the club in January.
Hammers News reached out to a top spokesman inside the club as well as the club’s official press relations.
At the time of writing there has been no response from the PR team.
But a club insider has responded to the claims, which Hammers News is publishing in haste in order to address the unhelpful reports.
West Ham United coach Graham Potter during the Sunderland defeat
Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
A top insider has responded to the claim that ‘police were called to West Ham dressing room’ after the Sunderland defeat.
“Not to our knowledge and that is something we would be expressly told about,” a top spokesman for the board told Hammers News.
That has been backed up ‘two members of the playing staff’ according to another top Hammers source, ExWHUemployee.
Speaking on his Patreon, ExWHUemployee also reported that the members of playing staff he spoke to are ‘both unaware of any such incident’.
“As it stands it seems like the story has been fabricated but we will update you if we hear differently,” Ex states.
It seems this is mischief-making to take advantage of West Ham fan anger on social media.
Usually such rumours would not be worth addressing. But given how damaging it could be for the already low morale around the club, it is important to call it out based on our information.
Back to the game, the Hammers looked completely toothless, lacking any power, pace or bite in midfield and weak at the back.
A deadly combination given many have predicted West Ham will be relegated this season.
That was emphasised by the fact West Ham had 64 per cent of possession but failed to create anything of note, recording just 0.63 worth of expected goals from their 11 shots.