West Ham United and the Metropolitan Police have released fresh travel advice for supporters ahead of the club's trip to face Millwall in south London on Saturday lunchtime, with officers on alert for potential trouble surrounding the fixture.
Scotland Yard has confirmed it is preparing for the possibility of disorder around the match, and has moved to clarify travel arrangements for away fans amid confusion caused by misleading online information.
Supporters travelling to the game have been told that South Bermondsey is the only station they should use to reach The Den. Fans attempting to use other nearby stations will reportedly be turned away by police and redirected to South Bermondsey instead.
The warning follows reports of false, AI-generated messages circulating online which falsely claimed that South Bermondsey station would be closed on matchday. Authorities suspect the misinformation may be a deliberate attempt to mislead West Ham supporters into using alternative routes, potentially creating friction or safety issues around the ground.
Despite the false claims, organisers have confirmed there are no engineering works or station closures planned that would affect fans travelling to the match. Supporters have been advised that regular train services from London Bridge to South Bermondsey take only a few minutes, making it the most straightforward way to reach the stadium.
Once fans arrive at South Bermondsey, they will be guided along a designated walkway leading directly to and from the away end turnstiles, a route intended to keep travelling supporters separated from other pedestrian traffic in the area.
Fans have also been reminded that there is no car parking available near the ground for the fixture, and no official coach service has been arranged for away supporters. Those planning to attend are being urged to rely on rail transport and follow the official guidance closely to avoid delays or confusion on the day.
Alongside the travel advice, West Ham have used the occasion to reaffirm the club's stance on discrimination at matches, issuing a statement ahead of what is traditionally regarded as one of English football's more heated derby fixtures.
"Equality, equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the Club and we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcome to attend our fixtures in a safe environment," the statement read.
The club went further in outlining the consequences for anyone found breaching its code of conduct at the game. "Any form of discriminatory behaviour or chanting is unacceptable; it has no place in football and has serious criminal consequences," the statement continued. "West Ham United will take the strongest possible action against any individual found to be engaging in such behaviour, including potential lifetime bans and referral to the police."
The London derby between Millwall and West Ham has a long history of passionate and, at times, fraught encounters between rival supporters, and both the police and the clubs are keen to ensure Saturday's fixture passes without incident.
With kick-off approaching, fans making the trip to south London have been urged to plan their journeys in advance, stick to the recommended routes via South Bermondsey, and disregard any unofficial information about station closures or travel disruption that has not been confirmed by the club or transport authorities.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.