Online Reporter
GRANIT XHAKA allegedly told a fan ‘see you outside’ as he was involved in an incredible row that saw West Ham’s win over Sunderland briefly halted.
TV cameras picked up the Black Cats midfielder arguing with supporters sat behind the away dugout − a section reserved for hospitality ticket holders who enjoy complimentary food and drinks at the London Stadium.
Referee Thomas Bramall could be seen speaking with West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, while stewards and the fourth official dealt with the incident.
Now, a fan sitting close by has told SunSport what he saw and heard from his seat close by.
The confrontation started after Nordi Mukiele was subbed off and “obviously p***** off”, throwing his hands in the air then having a moan at manager Regis Le Bris.
The fan told us: “Everyone’s going ‘Whey! Whey!’ and giving it to him, ‘dry your eyes, mate’ − like we always do it to be fair, being so close.
“Then he sort of turned around, went back towards the pitch and had a pop at the manager.
“That got another ‘Whey!’ again, a bigger roar. He’s turning around all the time, we’ve obviously rattled him.
“Then Xhaka‘s turned around because he’s sitting two or three rows behind the dugout and between us.
“He’s turned around and started giving it to one of my mates who was sitting just in front, basically going ‘show some respect, show some respect’ − quite ironic considering [Mukiele] just had a pop at his own manager.
“Everyone then starts giving it to Xhaka, telling him to wind his neck in.”
The confrontation then escalated after another person headed towards Xhaka.
“Another guy came [towards the dugout] to calm it down,” our source added.
“Then Xhaka started picking on him – he wasn’t doing anything, he’s just saying ‘stop, stop’ to Xhaka.
“And then Xhaka started calling him out saying, ‘I’ll see you outside, I’ll see you outside.’
“Then as he was heading down the tunnel after the game finished he was still going to the guy, ‘I’ll see you outside’.
“It was all Xhaka, complete head loss. The geezer’s on 100 grand a week getting rattled by absolute nobodies, just giving it the big ‘un.
“It was all on him.”
Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes were all on the scoresheet as West Ham won again, although they still remain in the relegation zone.
Brian Brobbey scored a consolation for the visitors − Sun.
