Why are West Ham fans planning boycott against Brentford? | OneFootball

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Hammers could face considerably reduced crowd for Monday night London derby - his first home match in charge

West Ham supporters’ group Hammers United are calling for a total boycott of Monday night’s game against Brentford in the latest in a series of protests against the club’s board.

Following on from protests against Crystal Palace, in which they marched on the directors’ entrance to the London Stadium, and Arsenal, where black balloons and flags were visible in the away end at the Emirates, Hammers United are calling on fans not to attend what is Nuno Espirito Santo’s first home match in charge.

The group released an open letter last week, lending their support to Nuno and the team. Monday’s boycott, they say, is with the sole aim of getting chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to step down.

“As you will no doubt be aware, prior to your arrival at the club, we launched the No More BS campaign which is calling for the resignations of Karren Brady and David Sullivan.

It will be difficult to ascertain just how many supporters have taken part in the boycott as it will occur on a Monday night in a televised slot, where ordinarily attendance figures tend to be lower.

A black balloon from the away end is seen on the pitch during West Ham’s defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium

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West Ham are offering a ‘kids for a quid’ promotion for Monday’s game as well as select £15 adult tickets. The discount is offered for select games each season, though the decision to announce it ahead of West Ham vs Brentford was made after the boycott had been announced.

As of Monday afternoon, there was availability throughout the London Stadium when going to buy a ticket for the Brentford game on West Ham’s official website.

Hammers United have urged supporters who are not attending the match not to relist their seats to be resold on the club’s ticket exchange system.

By relisting tickets on the exchange, supporters can earn ‘club cash’, which can be used on West Ham tickets or merchandise, while the club then sell the seat on.

Nuno admitted in his pre-match press conference that the planned boycott was a reflection of where the club, who sit 19th in the Premier League, currently finds itself, but said his players, who are desperately searching for their first points at home this season, were ignoring the ongoing dispute and encouraged fans to come and support the team.

“I wish they are there. I wish,” Nuno said.

“I hope that all our fans could join us and help us facing Brentford because it's going to be very tough. Like I said, it is an honest reflection [of where the club is at]. It is up to us now to give back to the fans so they can come closer and support us.

“We as a squad and a group, we ignore, we try to ignore, focus on the tasks and perform and compete, and play well so the fans can be there. That is what we are focused on.”

The boycott is the latest in a series of planned fan protests, with Hammers United looking to organise a sit-in after West Ham’s game at home to Newcastle on November 2, as well as another march ahead of West Ham vs Burnley on November 8.

The protest ahead of the Burnley game will see supporters march to the London Stadium to hand in the fans’ petition calling for Sullivan and Brady to leave, which, as of Monday afternoon, had more than 15,000 verified signatures.

Black balloons and flags will also continue to be visible at away games, with West Ham travelling to Leeds on Friday.