FA to probe Upton Park violence

"I completely back the FA's call for any person identified as involved in the violence to be banned for life," he said.

""We have made great progress in the past twenty years in tackling football hooliganism in this country and we will not tolerate any return to the dark days of the 70s and 80s when it plagued the game."

The Football League, which organises the Carling Cup, condemned the scenes and promised to help identify and punish those involved.

"We utterly deplore the violence that took place at last night's match," said chief operating officer Andy Williamson.

"Such behaviour has no place in the game and we will work with all the relevant authorities to ensure those behind it are held to account."

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, is due to have a routine meeting with FA chief executive Ian Watmore later today and told BBC Radio 5 live he expected to discuss the violence.

"It's not a good start to the season and it's important a full investigation is done, and the FA are going to do this with all parties to see exactly what caused this," he said.

"It's important to get to the bottom of it but too many hysterical over-reactions don't help.

"I can assure you the vast majority of Millwall and West Ham supporters will be as horrified by events that occurred as everybody else."

West Ham midfielder Jack Collison, who declared himself ready to play, despite the death of his father in a motorcycle accident on Sunday, was one of several players who pleaded with fans to get back to the stands.

It took officials about six minutes to clear about 50 people from the pitch and police had to redeploy within the stadium to tackle the invasion.

Riot police lined the streets outside the stadium, roads were closed and a helicopter flew overhead in preparation for further possible clashes as thousands of fans tried to leave the stadium at full time.

Police revealed later that the victim of the stabbing was a 44-year-old man, who is in a stable condition in hospital.