West Ham fan ‘Knollsy’ receives a standing ovation from fellow supporters at the London Stadium as he has a huge black eye after fending off AZ Alkmaar’s ultras after their Europa Conference League draw
- Chris Knoll, 58, has been praised for defending West Ham players’ families
- Known as ‘Knollsy’, the Hammers fan battled AZ Alkmaar’s ultras midweek
- Supporters gave him a hero’s welcome at the London Stadium on Sunday
West Ham fan Chris Knoll, better known as ‘Knollsy’, received a standing ovation at the London Stadium on Sunday for helping protect the families of the club’s players after Thursday’s game against AZ Alkmaar.
The 58-year-old has been widely praised for putting himself at risk following West Ham’s win over the Dutch in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
Knoll refused to let hooded thugs reach the sitting area where the players’ partners and children sat.
the father-of-four, who is recovering from hip replacement therapy, was spotted by fellow fans as he sat down to watch West Ham’s home game against Leeds on Sunday.
Supporters gave a standing ovation to ‘Knollsy’, who is also called the ‘Angel of Alkmaar’.
West Ham fans gave a standing ovation to supporter Knollsy ahead of their game with Leeds
The 58-year-old, still black-eyed, received a hero’s reception from his fellow fans after fending off ultras from AZ Alkmaar on Thursday
The West Ham fan held back Dutch echoes as they attempted to pour into the family stand
Fans were also reportedly heard chanting “We love you Knollsy, we do.”
Knoll had downplayed the praise that followed him going viral on social media, with footage of him battling at least half a dozen AK Alkmaar ultras that have gone global.
He was pictured afterwards with his shirt ripped, but still smiling.
He told MailOnline: ‘I’m not a hero. I just did what I had to do. There was another man she fended off.
“I don’t like bullies and just had to try and stop them.
“I just thought attacking was the best form of defense. You could tell they were intent on causing trouble and I didn’t want them to get to those behind us.’
On Friday, West Ham and France goalkeeper Alphonse Areola called Knoll a ‘legend’, while his wife Marrion Areola Valette added that he was the ‘greatest hero’ on a historic night for the Hammers.
Some fans have said that the club – or players who were so concerned they were trying to reach their families – should give him tickets to the final in the Czech capital Prague as a thank you for his heroism.
West Ham will play Fiorentina in the final of the Europa Conference League on June 7.
The UEFA disciplinary body will review the images and reports from the AFAS Stadium and decide what further action to take.
Penalties may follow for both teams and will be decided once UEFA’s investigation is complete.
Knoll was praised on social media for helping protect the families of West Ham players
Supporters of AZ Alkmaar had tried to gain access to the family area after the loss of their team