Sunderland’s Premier League fixture against West Ham United at the London Stadium was briefly halted following a heated confrontation between Black Cats midfielder Granit Xhaka and a home supporter.
The incident occurred in the closing stages of the second half. Xhaka, who was unavailable for selection due to an ankle injury, was seated behind the visitors’ dugout when he became involved in a prolonged verbal dispute with a fan. The exchange lasted several minutes and eventually drew in Sunderland substitute Lutsharel Geertruida, prompting referee Thomas Bramall to pause the match after an alert from the VAR team. Stewards were eventually forced to intervene to de-escalate the situation.
Managerial Reactions
Despite the disruption, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris downplayed the event in his post-match press conference, citing his distance from the stands. “I didn’t see what happened and haven’t spoken with anyone about it,” Le Bris stated. He emphasized that the team’s focus must remain on their performance rather than environmental distractions.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo was equally unaware of the specific triggers, noting only that the referee informed him the game had to be stopped momentarily.
Match Summary and Standings
On the pitch, Sunderland struggled without their captain, suffering a 3-1 defeat that saw them slide to 10th place in the Premier League table.
Match Statistics:
- Half-time Score: West Ham 3-0 Sunderland (Goals from Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen [PEN], and Mateus Fernandes).
- Final Score: West Ham 3-1 Sunderland (Brian Brobbey scored for the visitors in the 66th minute).
- League Position: Sunderland drop to 10th.
Xhaka’s Injury Outlook
Le Bris confirmed that Xhaka’s ankle injury will likely sideline him for at least two weeks. This timeline rules him out of the upcoming clash against Burnley on February 2 and makes him a major doubt for a high-profile return to his former club, Arsenal, on February 7.
Xhaka, who made 297 appearances for the Gunners over seven seasons, took to social media after the game to support his teammates, simply posting: “I’ll be back soon.” While Le Bris acknowledged Xhaka’s importance as a leader, he insisted the squad must learn to handle “uncomfortable” situations and difficult results without relying on excuses.
