West Ham players pay tribute to Michail Antonio after car crash

West Ham Players showed their support for their injured teammate Michail Antonio. Premier League A home win against Wolverhampton two days after a car crash.

The 34-year-old Jamaican football player is recovering in hospital after surgery for what West Ham described as a “lower extremity fracture”.

He was involved in a single-car incident outside London on Sunday (AEDT) and was subsequently airlifted to hospital and kept under close supervision.

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Antonio was trapped in the vehicle for approximately 45 minutes as firefighters tried to extricate him from his car. He wished the team success with a video before the match.

The players warmed up in their “Antonio 9” jerseys as they walked onto the field.

The club announced that the jerseys would be auctioned along with every match jersey worn against Wolves, with the proceeds going to medical charities and matched by the board of directors.

In the ninth minute, West Ham fans gathered at the London Stadium applauded Antonio, and when captain Jarrod Bowen brought the score to 2-1 in the second half, Antonio came to the fans behind the goal with his jersey.

“He’s not here with us to share that moment but I’m sure he was watching and fans you heard them,” Bowen told broadcaster Sky Sports.

“An emotional few days.”

Bowen said before the match: “Everyone loves Mic, he’s a big character.

“He’s not just a teammate, he’s a friend and has been for years. He’s also a father to beautiful kids. It’s one of those things where life is more important than football. What’s important is that Mic is safe and well and is here to tell the story.”

“Saturday (Sunday AEDT) was a really tough time. He’s a fighter and a warrior, always has been, and I know he’ll come back stronger for it.”

Antonio has made more than 300 appearances for West Ham since joining the club from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and had featured in all 14 matches this season before the incident.

In the news following the incident, it was claimed that the Jamaican football player may have to quit football due to the injuries he suffered.