Granit Xhaka Clashes With Fans As West Ham Beat Sunderland

The London Stadium was the scene of high drama on January 24, 2026, as West Ham United notched a crucial 3-1 Premier League victory over Sunderland—a result that could prove pivotal in the Hammers’ fight against relegation. Yet, the football itself was almost overshadowed by a fiery confrontation between Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka and a group of West Ham fans, sparking headlines and debate across the football world.

With just minutes left on the clock and West Ham cruising towards their first home league win of the year, tensions flared behind the Sunderland bench. Xhaka, 33, was absent from the pitch due to an ankle injury suffered in Sunderland’s previous win against Crystal Palace. Nevertheless, the Swiss midfielder traveled with his teammates and watched from behind the dugout. It was from this vantage point that Xhaka became embroiled in a heated verbal exchange with several home supporters, an incident that would briefly halt the match and draw the attention of referee Thomas Bramall, stewards, and even the video assistant referee (VAR).

Eyewitnesses and broadcast cameras captured the moment as Xhaka, visibly agitated, gestured toward a West Ham fan who, in a particularly unsavory moment, responded with an expletive hand gesture while holding a young child. The altercation, described by TNT Sports as a "dispute with the fans," quickly escalated, with Sunderland players pointing out the offending supporters and hundreds of Hammers fans standing to taunt Xhaka. Stewards rushed to intervene, and Bramall, alerted by the VAR, briefly suspended play. The pause lasted around 20 seconds, but the tension lingered both on and off the pitch.

Even after the final whistle, the incident refused to die down. Xhaka appeared to continue the argument as the Sunderland bench made its way to the tunnel, requiring staff to usher him away from the confrontation. The precise cause of the dispute remains unclear, but the images of a Premier League captain squaring up to opposition fans have already ignited fierce debate among supporters and pundits alike.

Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris, when asked post-match about the incident, admitted to being in the dark. "I don't know really [what happened], it's always a shame when something like that happens, but I don't know," he told Match of the Day. Le Bris also noted the distance between the bench and the action, suggesting it was difficult to ascertain the details from his vantage point. Meanwhile, West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, celebrating his 52nd birthday weekend, downplayed the drama, stating, "I was aware something was happening when the game was stopped. But I was just interested in asking the ref how many minutes would be added!"

The Premier League encounter itself was a tale of two halves. West Ham, desperate for points to claw their way out of the bottom three, came flying out of the blocks. Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a powerful header—his third goal in as many matches—after a pinpoint cross from captain Jarrod Bowen. Just minutes later, Trai Hume brought down Ollie Scarles in the area, and Bowen coolly converted the resulting penalty to double the hosts’ lead.

The pick of the goals arrived just before half-time, as Matheus Fernandes unleashed a thunderous 25-yard strike past Sunderland keeper Roefs, sending the home crowd into raptures. Fernandes’ all-action display earned him the player of the match award, with standout statistics including 67 touches, five tackles, and a 90% pass completion rate. Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, Fernandes remarked, "I think the most important [thing] was when we scored the first, we scored again. So, it was a good thing for us, because we scored early... we are happy but we go again, we want to leave [ourselves] in that position, and we are ready for the next game."

Sunderland, who entered the match boasting the Premier League’s third-best defensive record, looked shell-shocked by West Ham’s intensity. The visitors did manage to rally in the second half, with Brian Brobbey heading home a Nordi Mukiele cross in the 66th minute to briefly raise hopes of a comeback. But despite some late pressure, the Black Cats couldn’t find another breakthrough. West Ham held firm, securing a morale-boosting win that lifted them to within two points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

After the final whistle, West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen reflected on his side’s performance: "I thought first half, we showed what we can do. I thought we created a lot of opportunities. And then, second half, I think you always expect a reaction when you’re 3-0 up against a side, you expect them to lift it a little bit. So, I think we had to show a side to our game more defensively, trying to keep the ball out the back of our net. Obviously, we didn’t do that for a clean sheet, but only one goal conceded and when you score three, you always put yourself in a great position to go on and win the game."

Summerville was equally buoyant, telling TNT Sports, "There’s nothing better than winning, we are in a good flow. I think from next week, we took the positives and you could see it, you could smell it. Even the fans, wow. Unbelievable."

For Sunderland, the defeat was a missed opportunity to climb as high as fifth in the table, but the bigger talking point remains Xhaka’s confrontation with the fans. Social media was ablaze with opinions, some calling for disciplinary action against the midfielder, others defending his passion and leadership. The Football Association has yet to comment on whether further investigation is forthcoming.

Meanwhile, West Ham’s win marks their third consecutive victory in all competitions—a run that has injected fresh belief into a squad that had gone 11 league games without a win prior to last week’s triumph over Tottenham. The mood in east London, once gloomy amid protests against club ownership and fears of relegation, has suddenly lifted. As Nuno Espirito Santo put it, "This changes everything. When you work with a smile and happiness, everything is easier. We cannot stop believing. That’s the only thing we can never stop doing, although we know we’re in a tough position. This was a good performance, with good momentum, and the way we started helped. In the second half we showed improvement in terms of managing the game. In the second half, Sunderland reacted but the boys stayed calm."

Looking ahead, West Ham will hope to continue their resurgence when they visit Chelsea next weekend, while Sunderland, with nine days until their next fixture against Burnley, will be eager to regroup—both on the pitch and off it. Whether the Xhaka incident prompts further action remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the Premier League never fails to deliver drama, both in the stands and on the field.