‘Kamikaze’ – West Ham Urged to ‘Terminate’ Starter’s Contract as Fans Riot After Brighton Draw

London Stadium erupted in chaos following West Ham United's frustrating 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on December 30, 2025, a match dubbed "penalty pandemonium" with three spot-kicks awarded before halftime—the second such instance in Premier League history.[1][3]

West Ham, languishing in 18th place in the relegation zone, twice surrendered leads in a game that highlighted their defensive frailties. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring in the 10th minute, coolly finishing past Bart Verbruggen after breaking free, equaling a club record for goals.[1][3] Brighton responded swiftly when Danny Welbeck converted a penalty after fouling by a West Ham defender, sending Alphonse Areola the wrong way.[3] Moments later, Welbeck chipped his second penalty onto the crossbar, a miss punished deep into stoppage time as Lucas Paqueta slotted home West Ham's penalty following Lewis Dunk's handball, giving the Hammers a 2-1 halftime lead.[1][2][3]

The second half saw Brighton equalize in the 61st minute when Areola failed to claim a corner, allowing Joel Veltman to poke home from close range amid defensive confusion.[1][2] Despite late Brighton pressure, the scoreline held, ending West Ham's three-game losing streak but leaving them four points from safety above Nottingham Forest.[1][3] Brighton, winless in six, dropped to 14th.[3]

Fan fury boiled over post-match, with riots reported outside London Stadium amid chants branding the performance "kamikaze." Pundits and supporters turned on midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who scored his penalty but earlier conceded one via a rash challenge. TalkSport's Andy Goldstein urged West Ham to "terminate" Paqueta's contract immediately, calling his play reckless amid the club's survival fight. "This is kamikaze football—cut ties now before we go down," Goldstein fumed on air.[2] Social media exploded with #SackPaqueta trending, as freezing conditions amplified frustrations in a game featuring six yellows and VAR drama.[2]

Manager Nuno Espírito Santo faces mounting pressure, with the draw doing little to quell relegation fears as West Ham end 2025 in turmoil.[3][4]

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