Fans' anti-semitic chants directed at Spurs will incur wrath of West Ham
West Ham supporters who overstep the mark with racist slurs will be banned and face charges, warns manager Allardyce ahead of clash
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has warned fans who step out of line in today's volatile clash at Tottenham that they will feel the wrath of the law.
Allardyce's east London outfit make the short trip across the capital to White Hart Lane for the first time since a section of their supporters brought shame on the club by chanting anti-Semitic abuse in the corresponding fixture in November last year.
Just four days after a Spurs fan was stabbed in an apparent anti-Semitic attack in Rome, a group of West Ham fans chanted "Viva Lazio" and "Can we stab you every week?" Some even hissed, mimicking the gassing of Jews in the Holocaust.
You've got to be very, very careful about what you choose to chant. If you're made aware of it and it happens you don't have any excuse
With Tottenham and West Ham fans having a long history of violent clashes, there is widespread concern about more incidents at this weekend's derby.
West Ham have issued a strongly worded warning to their fans that any repeat of that behaviour at Spurs, who have a strong link with the Jewish community, would result in a ban order and potential criminal charges.
"The club has made a statement, so you will suffer the consequences if you do anything like that," Allardyce said. "If they do it, I think that's very important that they are identified and they suffer the consequences.
"We live in this society today so if you're made aware of what's acceptable and what's not, you've got to be very, very careful about what you choose to chant.
"If you're made aware of it and it happens you don't have any excuse.