Furious West Ham fans stage plane protest against ownership during live coverage of FA Cup tie

West Ham fans staged a plane protest against their owners during live coverage of their FA Cup clash with Burton Albion. 

The game, televised live on TNT Sports, was used as an opportunity for the beleaguered Hammers supporters to air their grievances, with the club currently locked in a relegation battle. 

Just before the game, a plane with a banner reading ‘Sullivan & Brady out – no more BS!’ was seen above Pirelli Stadium. 

And fans inside the ground played their part too, holding up red cards with ‘No more BS’, written on them. 

On the live coverage, the commentator said: ‘Now were were told to expect there would be a plane going over the stadium, a peaceful and special protest had been promised by West Ham supporters.

‘That protest as you see is against their board, the red cards being held up there in correlation with the fact that the board has been in position for 15 years. 

A West Ham fan is seen among the travelling support holding up the protest red card

Fans joined together in protesting against Karen Brady and David Sullivan 

In the 15th minute of the game, they held up the red cards on Saturday afternoon 

‘There is going to be a fan advisory board meeting with Karen Brady scheduled for the end of February where fans can come and put across their concerns.’

On BBC Radio 5 Live former West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green said: ”The [West Ham] owners have banned banners inside the London Stadium so you are not allowed to voice your protests in terms of signage or anything like that at the ground. The fans have been innovative.

‘Their concerns are still going on but what they can do is support the team on the pitch and they have good reason at the minute because they have good momentum.’

Brady’s meeting with supporters will take place on February 26 where they will discuss the ongoing concerns over ticketing, the stadium, and the overall direction of the club.

The Red Card protest was first arranged by Hammers supporters towards the end of last year. 

A statement on HammersUnited.com about the arrangement read: ‘We are asking fans to hold up red cards and point them towards the Directors Box on the 15th minute of every game, to represent 15 years of Brady and Sullivan mismanaging our Club. Chants of ‘No More BS’, and other similar songs, would be welcome too.’

‘Thousands of time served West Ham supporters may have walked away in recent years, the majority throwing in long held season tickets because of what the London Stadium isn’t: a football stadium, befitting of our history and traditions, worthy of being our home.’

The ground is a key part of the problem for many West Ham fans, with frequent complaints about the atmosphere. 

And performances on the pitch have also fallen flat this season, with relegation to the Championship a real possibility. 

West Ham are currently 18th in the Premier League table, three points away from safety, with Nottingham Forest the side just above them. 

There has been an uptick in form recently under Nuno Espirito Santo, losing just once in their last five encounters to give their frustrated fans some hope that they could avoid the catastrophe of dropping down a division.