 by UEFA after their fans attacked West Ham players' families - but the Dutch club will avoid a stadium closure for the horrific scenes that marred their Conference League semi-final. Thugs from AZ broke through a barrier and made their way to an area hosting the loved ones of West Ham stars at full-time of the game on May 18 - only for the visitors, including David Moyes's 87-year-old father, to be protected by a small number of Hammers fans. One of them, Chris 'Knollsy' Knoll, became a hero overnight for his bravery in confronting the Dutch thugs and received personal thank you messages from several players. Several West Ham players also became involved in the incident as they attempted to force the AZ ultras away from their families But UEFA have now confirmed that AZ will not even have to play their next home game in European competition without supporters. In a statement UEFA said it would fine AZ Alkmaar €7,125 (£6,115) for throwing of objects; €15,000 (£12,873) for lighting of fireworks; €8,000 (£6,866) for blocking of public passageways and €50,000 (£42,913) for crowd disturbances and its failure to ensure that spectators cannot move from one sector to another. The governing body added that AZ Alkmaar would be forced to 'play its next UEFA competition match as host club behind closed doors' but that charge is 'suspended for a probationary period of two years, starting from the date of the present decision.' West Ham's Pablo Fornals scored late on to earn a 1-0 win as Moyes's side progressed to the final 3-1 on aggregate. And they went on to beat Fiorentina in the final to secure their first major trophy in more than 40 years. Knoll, a 58-year-old electrician who was recovering from hip surgery at the time, said after the incident: 'I don){kind=link}
The Dutch club will not be forced to play a game behind closed doors despite thugs’ attempts to attack families of West Ham players after Europa Conference League semi-final in May
AZ Alkmaar have been fined â¬80,125 (£68,768) by UEFA after their fans attacked West Ham players’ families – but the Dutch club will avoid a stadium closure for the horrific scenes that marred their Conference League semi-final.
Thugs from AZ broke through a barrier and made their way to an area hosting the loved ones of West Ham stars at full-time of the game on May 18 – only for the visitors, including David Moyes’s 87-year-old father, to be protected by a small number of Hammers fans.
One of them, Chris “Knollsy” Knoll, became a hero overnight for his bravery in confronting the Dutch thugs and received personal thank you messages from several players. Several West Ham players also became involved in the incident as they attempted to force the AZ ultras away from their families
But UEFA have now confirmed that AZ will not even have to play their next home game in European competition without supporters.