Reporter speaks to West Ham fans who left Leeds game early and watched the penalty shootout via FaceTime on someone’s iPhone.
West Ham were 2-0 down at home to Leeds in the FA Cup quarter-final and looked certain to be eliminated.
Thousands of frustrated fans, believing the game was over, left the London Stadium early (especially after 75 minutes and near the end of normal time).
Incredibly, West Ham mounted a dramatic comeback in stoppage time, scoring twice (Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi) to force extra time, and the tie was eventually decided by a penalty shootout which West Ham lost.
The fans who had left early were stuck outside the stadium, unable to re-enter. They ended up watching the dramatic finale on someone’s phone, hearing the roars from inside while regretting their decision to leave prematurely.
Leeds pulled off a dramatic comeback, winning the penalty shootout 4-2 in one of the greatest turnarounds fans have seen.Outside the stadium, supporters watching on a phone via FaceTime initially celebrated what they thought was a missed Leeds penalty — only to realise moments later that the ball had gone in and Leeds had won.
As the stewards finally opened the doors (to sarcastic cheers from the long-waiting crowd), thousands of disappointed West Ham fans poured out quickly, clearly regretting staying until the end and now rushing to catch their trains home.
Having left the stadium before extra time, a group of West Ham United fans watched the FA Cup penalty shootout against Leeds United outside the stadium on FaceTime from a fellow supporter.
🎥 @Dan_Sheldon_ pic.twitter.com/imj76YjaLI
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) April 5, 2026
“I tried to get back in, but they (the stewards) said no. I didn’t see the point in trying to push back in because the police were coming over, and it isn’t worth getting nicked (arrested) over.”@Dan_Sheldon_ spoke to the #WHUFC fans who left early.
— Roshane Thomas (@RoshaneSport) April 6, 2026
Mark Beetwell-Dellow told The Athletic: “I was walking to the station and then rushed back when I heard the crowd after Fernandes scored, but I still thought it would be too late. And by the time I got here, the doors were shut, and protocol means they wouldn’t let us back in.
“I don’t normally leave early, but I’ve got a train to catch, so, as we were 2-0 down, I decided to go.”
Beetwell-Dellow watched extra time on his phone, but added “it’s not the same. I’m just trying to absorb the atmosphere the best I can.”
Scott was unable to get back in, his three friends were more successful. Scott said: “I tried to get back in, but they (the stewards) said no.
“I didn’t see the point in trying to push back in because the police were coming over, and it isn’t worth getting nicked (arrested) over.
“Not good at all. I was at the last FA Cup game, and I stayed, and now I’m wishing I’d done that here.
“I’m more frustrated with myself for leaving than anything else, because I shouldn’t have left.”
Malcolm was with his son Harley Olley who made the trip from Spain. Malcolm said: “The ball went out of play with about five minutes of regular time to go, and I needed the toilet, so I decided to leave.
“My son’s still in there, which is why we are standing here.”
His son messaged his Dad asking where he was: “I guess I’m old and cynical, he’s young and stupid.”
Carolyn Mixture was with a friend, her first match to have attended in two decades: “I left in the 85th minute because the game wasn’t very good. I hadn’t been to West Ham for over 20 years.
“We’ve been sat here, and people have been running back and forth, but they had shut all the doors, and it was obvious they weren’t going to let anyone back in. I actually think we were the jinxes because we left and they scored.”
🚨| West Ham fans left the stadium hopeless for their team’s return, then came back after the first goal, and then the second goal arrived. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/p2nvJ7hdrG
— Futball Centa (@futballcenta) April 5, 2026
West Ham fans that left early aren’t being let back in 😭😭😭
NEVER LEAVE A GAME EARLY!!! pic.twitter.com/FnoPB7YUMh
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) April 5, 2026
Leeds win on penalties after West Ham come back from two goals down and have two goals disallowed
Here’s the social media reaction after a reporter speaks to West Ham fans who left the Leeds game early and watched the penalty shootout via someone’s iPhone…
@JDNalton: Fans watching this in portrait mode rather than landscape is worse than leaving the stadium early.
@david_darlo7: Who the fuck leaves early? Especially a cup game
@CarlosS1kRR: They have no right to to “cheer” their team when they can’t even be bothered to stay to the end
@papafleming: Proper loyal fans these boys hammers through and through. Fucking off when your losing then snaking your way back when you hear they have scored from the tube station!!
@PeterDavidKirby: Pathetic. Should of stuck by their team and not left early.
@leedsthat: 😬
@Deveurleste: Why would you go home before the final whistle? Pathetic mentality
@stevenmcphee04: Play silly games win silly prizes plastic fans fuck em
@AllLoveLeeds: Fickle c***s! One of THE worst atmospheres I’ve ever experienced at a major football stadium. They sang f all and left in droves on 75.
@FPL__Courtney: Serves them right
@PitchsidePub: I catch shit on here daily for being an American and not understanding the passion lifelong local fans have for their clubs. Yet I see fans like this leaving early all the time when things aren’t going their way. Passion doesn’t get to choose when it’s convenient.
@Snadd23: Shit you love to see this, why on Earth would you ever leave early?
@pdb1980: I CANT NOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW FUNNY THIS IS
@NealGardner_: I’ll never understand why you’d walk out at 2-0? I mean, come on. With 20+ minutes left as well? Shocking.
@Dave_C90: Why on earth would you still be outside the ground 40 minutes after you’ve left? Get to the pub ffs 😂😂
@DanielFarkeBall: This is absolutely embarrassing 😂😂😂 👊💛💙🇩🇪 #lufc #alaw #mot #leedsunited
@thombo1987: Definition of a woeful plastic set of fans. Embarrassing is an understatement.
@DebsHLUFC:
Haaaa!
Fancy leaving with 10
Mins to go before we even get to injury time.
Serves you right 🤡
@Leeds_Untied: Embarrassing some fans man. Just give your tickets up and let someone who wants to go, go.
@WidowgastsM9: Deserves them right for leaving early. Another 10-20k fans cheering them on in added and extra time and West Ham probably would have won!
@ThreeFiveWho: Watching your team lose a penalty shootout outside the stadium, having left early… that’s a low I hope to never experience
@adam2986: Now someone please show this lot of fake fans crying and storming off for a second time after they lost on pens. Glad they didnt let them back in. You stay til the end. No matter what
@bluewhitewall: Their fanbase is one of the worst. 🤮 I am glad they got knocked out of the competition. Hopefully they get relegated as well.