Two German commentators are heard getting attacked by West Ham fans live on air at the Europa League game against Frankfurt on Thursday.
The Hammers have said they will ban any supporters found to have attacked foreign journalists / reporters during their side’s defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi final tie.
Tim Brockmeier and Philipp Hofmeister, who work for ARD Radio, said they were assaulted by home fans while broadcasting the game.
The incident is said to have taken place shortly after Michail Antonio’s goal in the 21st minute, leaving the reporters traumatised.
English fans physically attacking German commentators live on radio after West Ham’s equalizer earlier tonight pic.twitter.com/uWJpILf8US
— 29 (@189NlNE) April 28, 2022
Both men claim they punched and revealed their headphones were torn of them, no doubt leaving West Ham sickened by what they have heard and insist they will look at CCTV footage to work with police, ensuring that the offenders are handed an ‘indefinite’ ban.
In a statement, a spokesperson for West Ham said: ‘The club is aware of the incident and will be working to identify the offender.
‘In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police.
‘They will be given an indefinite ban and be unable to enter London Stadium and travel with the club. There is no place for this kind of behavior.’
Brockmeier and Hofmeister were sat in the back row of the press area, positioned directly in the center of the home fans.
However, due to the shocking moment, they were moved at half time.
During their broadcast, Hofmeister said: ‘If you constantly have the feeling that something could come from behind, a punch or something…
‘My dreams of English football have been shattered.’
After the game, the same reporter said he and his colleague were ‘doing okay.’
‘Best wishes to all West Ham supporters who love football and respect their opponents,’ he posted in a tweet.
Commentator Derek Rae spoke on the scuffle via social media and revealed that the sounds of the incident were even audible on the airwaves with audio doing the rounds.
He said: ‘You could hear it on the air. It disrupted the broadcast briefly. “I’ve never experienced anything like it”.’
‘Philipp & Tim explained they have been given new commentary seats in the middle of the media tribune now thanks to @WestHam media department,’ he added.
Derek Rae summarized what happened: The ARD Radio broadcasters have reported that they in their words “were attacked” by English fans behind them as the West Ham goal went in for 1:1. You could hear it on the air. It disrupted the broadcast briefly. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Talk on air from both commentators about being in shock & they feel perhaps the fans who attacked them didn’t like their loud goal shout for the Knauff 1:0. They say no security there to protect them.
Tweeting this in solidarity with my ARD colleagues. Could happen to any commentator and when you are concentrating fiercely and someone blindsides you in that fashion, while you’re at work, unacceptable.
So hat off (hat off) to Philipp Hofmeister & Tim Brockmeier for their utter professionalism during what must have been a living nightmare. Both work for Hessischer Rundfunk, the public station serving Hessen.
Philipp & Tim have explained they have been given new commentary seats in the middle of the media tribune now thanks to @WestHam media department. They hope to get on with their jobs but concede very hard to concentrate after what happened. cc: @thehopemaster, total pros.
Both commentators have been asked again on air about their experience. They expressed some surprise about the proximity to fans. They were in the last row of the press area but fans behind them. They felt the fans seemed taken back by their emotional comms on Knauff goal.
Tim Brockmeier said he was struck on the neck at that early point. Then later when the equalizer went in, multiple strikes & his headphones dislodged. They thanked WHU media dept & the technicians for their assistance but unpleasant and difficult to have to broadcast in fear.
Thanks to @dec11mcc for sending this. WHU spokesperson: “The Club is aware of the incident and will be working to identify the offender. In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police.”
The game itself saw West Ham come undone against Eintracht Frankfurt with goals from Ansagar Knauff and Daichi Kamada giving the German side a slender advantage ahead of next Thursday’s second leg.
Michail Antonio canceled out the hosts’ 50 second opener from close range after 21 minutes.
West Ham boss David Moyes speaking to BT Sport:
“Not what we wanted – we didn’t play well enough to get a result tonight but it’s still there, it’s not gone. We’ll go to the second leg probably not fancied and do what we can to still make it.
“I didn’t change too much [after first goal], I thought we deserved to get back in the game and if we had showed enough quality in the final third we might’ve got back in front but we didn’t. Started slow in second half and gave away a poor goal for the second.
“I think we missed an awful lot of opportunities to create chances, we should’ve made more, we had chances to cross the ball better and didn’t take them, we missed big chances in the box. We made some chances and had one or two efforts, we’ll have to make more next week.”
Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Oliver Glasner:
“I am very impressed by the lads, how they played, how they took the lead in the first minute.
“It’s just impressive, the confidence they showed. West Ham threatened then, but we did well defending the set-pieces.
“Leading after the first leg is always good, even though we were a little bit lucky from their bicycle kick. The lads did so well, they positioned well against their very physical defense and Borre moved well between the lines, so we evaded their man marking.”
Twitter users reacted as Two German commentators are heard getting attacked by West Ham fans live on air…
@_jasminebaba: Why am I disappointed but not surprised.
@alex_sge: Shame on you! @WestHam
@Lewis_Bickley: I hope they’re alright after this. All they’re doing is their bloody job!
Here’s a clip – they sound pretty shake, hope they’re OK pic.twitter.com/5pQnbEPdTD
— David T (@valedave) April 28, 2022
