By LAURIE WHITWELL and CHRIS WHEELER
The Football Association are to launch an investigation into the vile chanting by some West Ham fans at Tottenham yesterday.
Spurs’ 3-1 Barclays Premier League win was overshadowed by sickening songs about the stabbings of the Tottenham fans in Rome last week.
Anti-Semitic taunts were also heard, along with persistent hissing and references to Adolf Hitler.
Sportsmail has learnt that FA officials are waiting to digest the referee’s report before launching a full probe, although off-the-field incidents typically take longer to investigate than those on the pitch.
High-level discussions are also taking place between the West Ham hierarchy over what action the club will take.
Hundreds of West Ham supporters chanted ‘Viva Lazio’ at numerous points during the game in a macabre show of support for the hooligans who left at least 10 Spurs fans injured and one needing emergency surgery.
Ashley Mills, 25, of Essex, had to be admitted to hospital for stab wounds to his head and groin after being set upon by a gang of masked thugs while in Rome for Tottenham’s Europa League match against Lazio. Two men have since been charged with attempted murder.
Italian flags were seen in the away section on Sunday and a red flare was also set off. After Tottenham had scored their second and third goals, ‘Lazio’ was chanted, bringing ironic cheers from the home crowd.
The most distasteful chants were saved for towards the end. In reply to Spurs fans chanting, ‘Can we play you every week?’ West Ham fans sang: ‘Can we stab you every week?’
Anti-semitic chanting, hissing and the references to Hitler then followed.
The FA said they would await reports from referee Andre Marriner and fourth official Mark Clattenburg before taking further action.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said he had not heard the chanting but agreed his fans ‘should not be doing that’. Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas branded the chants as ‘stupid’.
Allardyce said: ‘I don’t hear what the fans say or do when I’m concentrating on a game of football.
‘They shouldn’t be doing things like that, should they? But it’s the least of my worries at the minute.’
Asked about the Hitler chanting, Allardyce said: ‘If I didn’t hear it, I can’t condemn it. I’ll wait and look at it myself and then I’ll comment after I’ve listened to what they’ve said. I don’t want to be a political animal. I’m in here to talk about football, not what fans are saying or singing.’
Villas-Boas said: ‘We know the animosity there is between Tottenham and West Ham. As long as it doesn’t reach stupidity, it is a great rivalry.
‘I understand the whole situation is unavoidable although we can’t decipher the complete meaning of what they were singing.’
The two clubs have a long-standing history of abuse between supporters. Former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe, who was booed throughout, scored two of the goals in the win for Tottenham, a victory that takes them one place above the Hammers.
Spurs fans have been the subject of complaints by the Society of Black Lawyers who objected to the White Hart Lane supporters singing ‘Yid Army’ about themselves. Sportsmail has highlighted that this kind of disgraceful chanting is just as despicable as racist abuse, pointing out unacceptable behaviour such as vile abuse Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is subjected to at various grounds.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Dave Jones, who has been the victim of sustained abuse, said: ‘It is like a form of racism because it is every bit as bad.’
Spurs supporters rushed to condemn their West Ham rivals on Twitter.
Andrew Leason wrote: ‘West Ham fans & their Lazio/Hitler chants showing what utter vile scum they are.’
West Ham fan Andrew Wiseman posted: ‘The minority of hammers fans with the Lazio chants should hang their heads in shame. And I’m a Hammer. Pathetic.’
Ed Aarons commented: ‘Not surprised at all by reports of moronic Lazio chants by West Ham fans at WHL. Not exactly known for their intelligence.’
West Ham fans were also accused of hissing in reference to the Jews who were slaughtered by the Nazis in concentration camps.
‘Hissing, Lazio chants and (letting off) a flare. You classless bunch of p***** are really enjoying your cup final, aren’t you West Ham,’ posted Louise Page.
And Charlie Parrish added: ‘Next to West Ham away fans. Lots of Lazio chants. Football’s pretty grim sometimes.’
