A total of six arrests occurred after 400 police officers were deployed to manage a heated London derby between Millwall and West Ham on Saturday, September 19. The Met Police established a “ring of steel” at The Den to prevent any violence that has plagued this matchup in past seasons.

The police reported that the match took place “without significant disruption” in south east London. The specific offences leading to arrests included:

• Tailgating
• Assault on a police officer
• Entering or attempting to enter a stadium while intoxicated

A Met Police spokesman praised the collaboration with Millwall FC and West Ham FC, stating that their efforts allowed fans to safely enjoy the match.

In terms of the game, West Ham made an impressive comeback from being two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw. Millwall initially led at halftime with goals from Caleb Taylor and Camiel Neghli, but Mohamadou Kante and Konstantinos Mavropanos equalized for the Hammers. Despite the draw, West Ham finished the match with ten men after Kante received a red card.

Controversy arose when West Ham striker Taty Castellanos was accused of spitting at Millwall goalkeeper Filip Marschall during the match. Marschall, in his Championship debut, lodged a complaint with match officials. Lions boss Alex Neil commented on the incident, stating he would rely on video footage for clarity, while Hammers manager Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged the allegation but refrained from further comment until he reviewed the images.