- NOW READ: Inside the chaos at ‘rudderless ship’ West Ham: A silent co-owner and gripes about Karren Brady, transfer market gambles, key roles vacant at ‘circus’ club, doubts over Jarrod Bowen’s leadership and why staff are furious about the Christmas party
Hundreds of West Ham fans missed Crysencio Summerville’s opener against Sunderland at the London Stadium while taking part in an organised protest against the club’s owners.
Summerville’s bullet header from a Jarrod Bowen cross gave the Hammers the lead to help settle the nerves in the 14th minute.
But the Dutchman’s goal was scored in front of swathes of empty seats at the London Stadium following fan group Hammers United’s ‘No More BS (Brady and Sullivan)’ campaign.
Despite their historic Conference League triumph in 2023, the group are unhappy with David Sullivan and Karren Brady’s ownership of the club.
The pair have been at the helm of West Ham for 15 years with the group urging fans to stay away from their seats for the opening 15 minutes of the clash against Sunderland.
Crysencio Summerville’s unstoppable header gave West Ham the lead against Sunderland
Fans hold up cards protesting against David Sullivan and Karren Brady, the club’s owners
Karren Brady, pictured with husband Paul Peschisolido at a game earlier this season
And that absence made them miss Summerville’s opening goal. But there was still plenty of reward for the returning protesters – Bowen added a second goal from the penalty spot on 28 minutes before Mateus Fernandes added a third from distance just before half-time.
Sunderland pulled a goal back after the break but it was not enough to deny the Hammers.
A statement from the supporters’ group Hammers United this week read: ‘For the match against Sunderland, we are asking all fans to delay taking their seats for 15 minutes, then walk in holding up red cards, and continue to show them throughout the game.
’15 minutes for the future of our Club. That’s all we’re asking. We hope you’ll join us.’
Victory against Sunderland takes West Ham up to 20 points after 23 matches in the Premier League, but is not enough to pull them out of the relegation zone. 17th-placed Nottingham Forest would remain two points clear of them.
