Millwall claim West Ham’s Castellanos spat during heated Dockers Derby
Millwall goalkeeper Filip Marschall alleged that West Ham forward Taty Castellanos spat at him during the Dockers Derby at The Den, a claim reported by Henry Clark, Sports News Editor on 19 September 2026. The flashpoint occurred in the second half while the hosts led 2‑0.
Allegation and immediate reaction
In the second half, with Millwall cruising ahead, Marschall dabbed his shirt to his face in astonishment and told referee Paul Tierney, “He spat at me.” The goalkeeper pointed to his jersey, gesturing that the forward’s breath had reached him. TV footage proved inconclusive, but the fourth official confirmed that Millwall staff had lodged a formal complaint.
Club responses and match outcome
West Ham denied any wrongdoing, with boss Nuno Espirito Santo stating, “I didn’t see it, so I am not going to comment on it.” Millwall’s Alex Neil added, “I believe so… it’s hard for me to see what happened, but I wouldn’t presume Fil would say that without cause.” No sanction was handed to Castellanos after the allegation.
The Hammers rallied, with Mohamadou Kante scoring from 25 yards in the 74th minute and Konstantinos Mavropanos equalising with a header in the 80th. Kante was later sent off for pulling down Millwall’s Kyrell Lisbie as the last man, yet West Ham held on to claim a 2‑2 draw.
Historical context and aftermath
The fixture marked the first meeting of the London rivals in 14 years after West Ham’s relegation to the Championship, prompting a large‑scale Metropolitan Police operation in east London. Both clubs entered the match as Championship leaders, with West Ham sitting top of the table on the day.
Spitting incidents have previously attracted heavy penalties: Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri received a four‑match ban and a £15,000 fine in December last year, while Norwich’s Borja Sainz was handed a six‑game suspension and a £12,000 fine in December 2024.
Authorities will review the incident further, and the referee and officials are expected to decide whether any disciplinary action is required.