But Hammers co-owner David Sullivan says a player was racially abused at the club's end-of-season dinner, sparking the disagreement. The Hammers staged a party at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London on Monday night and invited fans to attend the function. Trouble flared over the course of the evening, though, with supporters clashing with players. Police were called to the scene but no arrests were made. Sullivan was among those in attendance and he alleges that one of the fans involved in the fracas racially abused a member of the West Ham squad. He has criticised the behaviour of the supporter in question, claiming he 'let the club down', but says reports of a mass brawl breaking out have been 'blown out of proportion'. He told Sky Sports News: "The whole incident has been blown out of all proportion. It was one individual who had too much to drink, sadly a problem in British society. "A player was racially abused by the same drunken supporter, which is not acceptable. Sadly one drunken supporter let the club down." A West Ham spokesman confirmed to Sky Sports News that the event had been attended by 800 people, with fans paying more than £250-a-head to support the club. The spokesman added that players had given autographs to supporters throughout the evening. Tension around Upton Park has risen following the club's relegation out of the Premier League on Sunday. A 3-2 defeat to Wigan sealed the Hammers' fate and led to the dismissal of manager Avram Grant. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "We were called at 9.15pm to reports of a disturbance at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. "Officers attended. There were no offences alleged and no arrests."
