West Ham United players expressed their solidarity with injured teammate Michail Antonio before and during their Premier League home victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, just two days after he was involved in a serious car accident.
During the warm-up, players donned jerseys bearing the name “Antonio 9” and entered the field wearing tops featuring his name. The club plans to auction these walk-out tops along with the match jerseys worn during the game, with proceeds benefiting medical charities, matched by the club’s board.
Fans at the London Stadium paid tribute to Antonio with applause in the ninth minute. After captain Jarrod Bowen scored the decisive goal in the second half, he celebrated by holding up an Antonio jersey in front of the supporters behind the goal.
“To share that moment, he’s not here with us but I’m sure he was watching, and the fans—you heard them,” Bowen told Sky Sports. “It’s been an emotional couple of days.” He added, “Everyone loves Mic; he is a big character. He is not just a teammate but a friend and a father to beautiful children. Life is bigger than football. The main thing is that Mic is safe and well and here to tell the story. Saturday was really difficult, but he is a warrior and a fighter. I know he will come back stronger.”
Antonio, a 34-year-old Jamaica international, is recovering in the hospital after undergoing surgery for what West Ham described as a “lower limb fracture.” He was hospitalized following a one-car incident outside London on Saturday, where he has been kept under close supervision.
Before the match, Antonio sent a video message wishing his teammates well. Since joining West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015, he has made over 300 appearances for the club and played in all 14 matches this season prior to the accident.
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