West Ham player Tomas Soucek received a violent threat from a Millwall supporter ahead of the London rivals' derby match this weekend. The incident occurred in public, and a video clip was subsequently shared on social media.
The clip features a Millwall fan telling Soucek, "If I see you at the Den next Saturday I'm going to cut your f***ing face off, you ****." Soucek, who is reportedly recovering from an ankle injury and has not played this season, appeared to react to the threat by laughing.
The match between Millwall and West Ham is scheduled to take place at The Den on Saturday, marking their first meeting in 14 years. The rivalry between the two clubs is known for its intensity.
Past encounters between Millwall and West Ham have been marred by significant incidents. In August 2009, during a League Cup match, a 44-year-old Millwall fan was stabbed in the chest. That game also saw three pitch invasions, and hundreds of West Ham fans gathered outside Upton Park, where police reported being targeted with thrown objects. At the time, one Millwall fan described the atmosphere outside the stadium as a "war zone" where indescribable violence was witnessed by children. A local business owner also reported widespread fighting and injuries.