Qudus SalihuSky Sports has officially released a controversial “eye-opening” audio package detailing the fiery exchange between Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka and West Ham supporters during the Black Cats’ 3-1 defeat at the London Stadium. The 33-year-old midfielder, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, was caught on a “hot mic” while sitting behind the visitors’ dugout, leading to a temporary suspension of play by referee Thomas Bramall.
The released audio captures a series of escalating verbal barbs. The confrontation reportedly began when a section of the Hammers’ support targeted Xhaka with taunts regarding his history of disciplinary issues and his departure from the Premier League years prior. Xhaka, never one to shy away from a confrontation, can be heard clearly shouting, “What do you want?!” and “Say it to my face!” as the atmosphere turned toxic in the 87th minute.
What makes the footage particularly striking is the involvement of a fan carrying a young child. The audio reveals Xhaka’s disbelief as the supporter allegedly directed expletives and hand gestures toward the bench. The Swiss international’s response—a mix of raw frustration and animated gesticulation—prompted stewards and even teammate Jobe Bellingham to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Sky Sports’ analysis of the “full audio” sheds light on why the VAR felt it necessary to alert the referee to a “dispute in the crowd.” While Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris claimed he was too far away to hear the specifics, the broadcast audio confirms that the abuse was sustained throughout the second half. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the thin line between terrace banter and personal vitriol, especially for a lightning-rod figure like Xhaka. With the FA likely to review the footage, the “unfiltered” nature of this release has sparked a massive debate over fan conduct and player protection in the modern game.
Mustapha Sheidu
Qudus Salihu
Rabiu Aminu
