Commentators at West Ham's Europa League semi-final with Eintracht Frankfurt were attacked by home fans after a goal at the London Stadium.
Philipp Hofmeister and Tim Brockmeier were calling the game, and - according to ESPN's Derek Rae - were assaulted by a section of West Ham supporters when Michail Antonio cancelled out Ansgar Knauff's opening goal.
Hofmeister and Brockmeier were working there for German public service broadcasters ARD, and according to Rae were heard to tell their listeners, "I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Brockmeier had his headset ripped from his head, but both commentators avoided serious injury.
FRANKFURT SCORE WITHIN 50 SECONDS! 😮
The London Stadium has been rocked!#WHUSGE | #UEL pic.twitter.com/zaO3veSw73— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 28, 2022
Knauff put Frankfurt ahead inside 50-seconds, heading in a clever ball from Rafael Borre.
Antonio levelled, poking the ball home from close range on 21-minutes. Rae reported that there was no security present to protect the commentators when they came under attack from Hammers fans.
The incidents were reported andHofmeister and Brockmeier were subsequently offered positions in the middle of the press area by West Ham staff. However, the incident will be a black mark on what is West Ham's first European semi-final since 1976.
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 air. It disrupted the broadcast briefly. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.” #WHUSGE
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) April 28, 2022
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