David Sullivan Criticises Manchester United After West Ham Fans' Bus Attack

West Ham United co-chairman David Sullivan has criticised Manchester United for their late arrival for Tuesday's game between the two teams, which saw fans attack the visitors' bus on its way towards the stadium. 

The match was put back 45 minutes to an 8:30 p.m. kick-off due to congestion outside Upton Park ahead of the final clash to ever be played at the iconic venue. And Sullivan, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, was critical of the Red Devils for not arriving at the stadium earlier on, suggesting the club are privy to special treatment:

"

I don't understand why Manchester United didn't get here at 4 p.m. They knew it was our last game. They knew there would be congestion, so they should have come earlier.

There is jealousy towards Manchester United because everybody feels they get treated specially. They've been treated specially again here tonight. If we had arrived at Old Trafford when they did they wouldn't have put the kick off back 45 minutes.

"

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

As the team coach headed towards the ground, the vehicle was pelted with objects thrown from the assembled Hammers fans outside. However, Sullivan also told the radio programme (h/t ESPN FC) he thinks the incident has been overblown. “There were people around the coach, but there was no attack on the coach," he said. "If you check the coach, there won't be any damage to it.”

Breathe Sport posted the following clip and accompanying caption suggesting Sullivan may have been incorrect in his assessment of the situation:

"

West Ham chairman David Sullivan: “If Man Utd check the coach, there won’t be any damage.”  #FarewellBoleyn pic.twitter.com/fxIbWTdQyK

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) May 10, 2016"

Sullivan has since apologised for the remarks he made, per talkSPORT: "When I was asked about the incident prior to yesterday's [Tuesday] game, I was unaware of the damage that had occurred to the Manchester United team bus. I want to apologise to [United] for that damage and assure them that we will be doing all we can to track down those responsible and ban them for life."

West Ham have also released a statement in which it’s made clear they will look to punish any offenders. 

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

“We are aware that there were some supporters outside the Boleyn Ground who didn't act in an appropriate way when the Manchester United team bus was damaged,” read the club bulletin, per BBC Sport. "That was not acceptable and we will work with the police to identify those responsible and ban them for life.”

It’s the second time recently the Red Devils have had to have a match in the capital delayed due to a late arrival. Their game with Tottenham Hotspur last month was put back 30 minutes as the United bus got stuck in traffic on the way to White Hart Lane. 

It should have been an occasion to savour for the club, as their players produced a rousing performance on the field, coming back from 2-1 down late on to beat United 3-2. But the Daily Mirror’s John Cross branded the evening “a disgraceful trip back down memory lane” for the Irons:

Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard posted the following footage from inside the bus on Snapchat as objects smashed against the windows. *Warning, expletive language used*:

United could maybe readdress their timekeeping and find a new way of preempting traffic in the capital. But that doesn’t make it fair game to throw objects at the bus on arrival. It’s a shame that on a memorable occasion for West Ham, these unsavoury incidents have wrestled some of the focus from a stirring showing on the field.