Revealed: Why Granit Xhaka got into a heated argument with West Ham fans and ‘what the Sunderland captain is claimed to have said to one supporter’

Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka reportedly told a West Ham fan ‘see you outside’ during a heated confrontation at the London Stadium.

The Swiss midfielder, 33, was embroiled in an argument with fans seated behind the away bench as West Ham’s 3–1 victory over Sunderland entered its closing stages. 

Referee Thomas Bramall briefly paused the match amid the commotion and was seen talking to West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo as the stewards and fourth official dealt with the argument.

And, according to a fan sitting close to the altercation, the incident was sparked by Nordi Mukiele’s furious reaction to being substituted by Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris.

The supporter said Mukiele was being told ‘dry your eyes, mate’ by those close to the bench as he gesticulated in frustration and moaned at Le Bris with West Ham three goals up in the tie.

‘Then Xhaka’s turned around because he’s sitting two or three rows behind the dugout and between us,’ the fan told The Sun.

Xhaka became involved in a verbal altercation with some fans seated behind the away bench

‘He’s turned around and started giving it to one of my mates who was sitting just in front, basically going “show some respect, show some respect” – quite ironic considering [Mukiele] just had a pop at his own manager.’

The fan said everyone started ‘giving it’ to Xhaka and told him to ‘wind his neck in’.

Another person is said to have approached the Sunderland captain to try and defuse the situation, but the Switzerland international reportedly told him ‘I’ll see you outside’ continuously.

‘It was all Xhaka, complete head loss,’ the fan added. ‘The geezer’s on 100 grand a week getting rattled by absolute nobodies, just giving it the big ‘un. It was all on him.’

Xhaka took to social media after the game, but did not acknowledge the incident.  

‘Not on the pitch today, but always with the team. Trust the boys. I’ll be back soon,’ he said on Instagram.

Le Bris told Match of the Day after the game: ‘I don’t know really [what happened], it’s always a shame when something like that happens, but I don’t know.’

Xhaka had started all of the Black Cats’ Premier League games this season before Saturday’s clash in east London.

He picked up a knock in his ankle during last week’s victory over Crystal Palace but travelled with the squad to watch from the sidelines.