Sunderland moved quickly to condemn the behaviour, issuing a strongly worded statement calling on the Premier League to investigate the matter. The club stressed that such chanting has no place in football
Sunderland Issue Urgent Statement After Granit Xhaka Incident at London Stadium
Sunderland AFC were forced to release an urgent statement on Saturday evening following an incident involving club captain Granit Xhaka during their 3–1 Premier League defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium.
The flashpoint occurred late in the match when Xhaka, who was absent from the starting XI due to an ankle injury, became involved in a heated exchange with a section of home supporters positioned close to the substitutes’ bench. According to reports, a chant directed towards Sunderland was deemed provocative and deeply offensive, prompting a visibly angry reaction from the midfielder.
Stewards and match officials were required to intervene, briefly halting proceedings as tensions threatened to escalate. Xhaka was eventually ushered away from the area as the situation was brought under control, but the incident had already cast a shadow over the closing stages of the contest.
In the aftermath, Sunderland moved quickly to condemn the behaviour, issuing a strongly worded statement calling on the Premier League to investigate the matter. The club stressed that such chanting has no place in football and warned that it creates a hostile and unsafe environment for players and staff.
“Sunderland AFC will not tolerate actions that endanger or provoke our players,” the statement read in part, with the club urging authorities to consider appropriate action against West Ham United should any breach of regulations be established.
The incident further compounded a frustrating afternoon for Sunderland, who slipped to a 3–1 loss and struggled to cope without Xhaka’s leadership in midfield. Head coach Régis Le Bris later admitted the captain’s absence was significant but insisted the focus must now return to results on the pitch.
The Premier League is expected to review reports from match officials and stadium security as part of its standard post-match process. The episode has once again reignited debate around crowd conduct and the responsibility of clubs to manage supporter behaviour.
For Sunderland, the hope is that swift action will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future, as attention turns back to their league campaign and the fitness of their influential captain.
