By Matthew Champion.
A football fan stabbed before the stormy West Ham v Millwall Carling Cup tie this week has been described as an 'innocent family man'.
Police said the unnamed 43-year-old and ten family members, all Millwall fans, had arrived at the wrong entrance at Upton Park before being pursued by a 'large group' of West Ham supporters.
The man and his two teenage sons, who along with the rest of the group were not wearing any team colours, were punched and kicked as they fled along nearby Tudor Road.
He was then separated from his sons when he was stabbed in the chest, managing to crawl to Priory Road where he collapsed and was later found by police.
A statement said the man remained in a stable condition in an east London hospital.
'This incident was not a pre-arranged act of violence between two sets of rival supporters; this was an innocent family man who was subjected to a senseless attack by people intent on causing violence,' said Detective Inspector Lee Barnard of the Metropolitan police.
'Although the family were not wearing any clothing that would identify them as Millwall supporters, their direction of travel may have indicated that they were.
'The victim was subjected to a brutal and sustained attack as he and his family tried to flee to safety. If not for the swift intervention of paramedics, the man would have lost his life.
'I urge anyone who witnessed this attack, or has information that can assist this investigation, to contact us.'
Nine people have so far been charged over violence in and around Upton Park before and during Tuesday's match, which West Ham won 3-1 after extra time.
The Football Association and England's World Cup bid team have both condemned the scenes, while both clubs have vowed to ban supporters found to have been involved.
A football fan stabbed before the stormy West Ham v Millwall Carling Cup tie this week has been described as an 'innocent family man'.
Police said the unnamed 43-year-old and ten family members, all Millwall fans, had arrived at the wrong entrance at Upton Park before being pursued by a 'large group' of West Ham supporters.
The man and his two teenage sons, who along with the rest of the group were not wearing any team colours, were punched and kicked as they fled along nearby Tudor Road.
He was then separated from his sons when he was stabbed in the chest, managing to crawl to Priory Road where he collapsed and was later found by police.
A statement said the man remained in a stable condition in an east London hospital.
'This incident was not a pre-arranged act of violence between two sets of rival supporters; this was an innocent family man who was subjected to a senseless attack by people intent on causing violence,' said Detective Inspector Lee Barnard of the Metropolitan police.
'Although the family were not wearing any clothing that would identify them as Millwall supporters, their direction of travel may have indicated that they were.
'The victim was subjected to a brutal and sustained attack as he and his family tried to flee to safety. If not for the swift intervention of paramedics, the man would have lost his life.
'I urge anyone who witnessed this attack, or has information that can assist this investigation, to contact us.'
Nine people have so far been charged over violence in and around Upton Park before and during Tuesday's match, which West Ham won 3-1 after extra time.
The Football Association and England's World Cup bid team have both condemned the scenes, while both clubs have vowed to ban supporters found to have been involved.
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