West Ham Bans Half-and-Half Scarves for Tottenham Match
West Ham United has prohibited half-and-half scarves for the upcoming Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The club stated that this decision is part of "increased security measures" that will be implemented during the London derby, which is scheduled to kick off at 17:30 BST.
This ban is among several initiatives aimed at ensuring the safety of all supporters and preventing away fans from accessing home sections of the stadium.
Security personnel will confiscate half-and-half scarves and any other items displaying the colors or crests of both clubs before fans enter the London Stadium.
West Ham emphasized that the enhanced security presence will involve "additional checks at turnstiles, restrictions on half-and-half scarves or items featuring the colors/crests of both clubs, and measures to ensure that home areas remain exclusive to West Ham United fans."
Supporters who have acquired half-and-half scarves from unofficial vendors will be required to surrender them to security staff at the checkpoints, and these scarves will not be returned.
West Ham, based in East London, has a historical rivalry with Championship side Millwall, although the two teams have not faced each other since 2012. Tottenham's primary rivalry is with north London neighbors Arsenal, but Spurs are considered West Ham's biggest rivals in the Premier League.
West Ham has had a challenging start to the season, losing three of their first four matches, leading their official fan advisory board to issue a vote of no confidence in the club's management. Additionally, another fan group has called for a protest outside the stadium prior to the home game against Crystal Palace on September 20, as well as a boycott of the match against Brentford on October 20.
In 2018, German club Borussia Dortmund also banned half-and-half merchandise for a Europa League match against Red Bull Salzburg, due to the Austrian club's logo featuring the energy drink manufacturer's branding.