West Ham bans half-and-half scarves ahead of Tottenham derby

West Ham United has banned half and half scarves and other items showing the colours or crests of both clubs from Saturday’s London derby with Tottenham Hotspur, announcing enhanced security measures at the London Stadium ahead of the 5.30pm kickoff on September 13. The club said supporters who buy such scarves from unofficial sellers will be required to hand them to stewards at security checkpoints and that confiscated items will not be returned.

The measures, West Ham said in a statement, include additional checks at turnstiles and steps to ensure home areas remain reserved for West Ham fans. The club asked supporters to allow extra time, urging patience "especially during the busiest times in the 45 minutes ahead of kickoff." Organisers have warned that any item deemed to breach the rules will be removed by security and disposed of if necessary.

Club officials framed the move as a precaution to reduce the risk of confrontations at one of English football’s most volatile fixtures. The decision follows heightened tensions this summer after forward Mohammed Kudus transferred from West Ham to Tottenham for a fee reported at about 54 to 55 million pounds. Reports said Kudus...