The decision to allow the upcoming derby game on June 21 to be played at Goodison Park has finally been made: it will kick off behind closed doors at 7 pm.
The decision was made, following weeks of unnecessary speculation, by Liverpool City Council's ground safety advisory group after most local entities (the police, the mayor, the clubs) had expressed their support for the game going ahead at Goodison Park.
The Goodison derby had been on a list of fixtures which the UK's football policing lead, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts of South Yorkshire Police, said local forces had requested to be played at a neutral venue.
However, Merseyside Police appeared to contradict DCC Roberts by saying they were happy to police matches in Liverpool. But at a meeting of the council's Safety Advisory Group today, both Everton were given approval to play their remaining home games at Goodison Park after reassurance was given that the conditions outside the ground can be managed.
Councillor Wendy Simon, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool and Chair of the Ground Safety Advisory Group (GSAG) said: “A lot of factors have been taken into consideration, especially the safety of the players, match officials and staff in attendance. We are confident the measures in place will allow matches to be held behind closed doors without any detrimental impact to all concerned and recommend to the city council that the safety certificate [for Goodison Park] be amended to allow this to happen."
Reader Comments (60)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 10/06/2020 at 10:48:49
3 Posted 10/06/2020 at 10:53:52
That particularly unpleasant association was underlined by the incredible fact that the neutral venues nonsense came from, of all people, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts of the South Yorkshire Police — are you fucking kidding me! Telling the populace of Liverpool where their teams can and can't play football on grounds of safety??? Such hypocrisy. How fucking dare they!
Then we've had the unmitigated madness of the race riots — far more dangerous and far more problematic than a few fans out on the streets, and they've been allowed to run riot in the dubious name of democratic protest — totally flouting what's left of the lockdown.
There should never, ever have been any suggestion that the game had to be moved. It should have been vehemently opposed by all parties, and thankfully now has been put to bed.
Rant over!
4 Posted 10/06/2020 at 10:57:33
5 Posted 10/06/2020 at 11:08:54
I recall the year after the Hillsborough disaster, we were drawn away at Wednesday in the cup. Obviously the terracing was closed, and I recall fans dropping flowers down from the stand. It was I think 4th round - and possibly only half-full.
Then they announced a 30-minute delay to kick-off to allow fans to safely enter the ground. That tokenism, symbolism or whatever only served to reignite anger at the attitude of SYP.
Earlier today, one of the tabloids is running a story online about how far-right groups are planning to "protect" various statues in London this weekend from potential BLM protests – and openly describes them as football hooliganism.
The press as a whole in the UK has gone to shit since the advent of online publishing – the quantity of crap posted has lead to a worsening (which I didn't think possible) of journalistic integrity and overall quality, with a few notable exceptions.
6 Posted 10/06/2020 at 11:20:06
7 Posted 10/06/2020 at 11:29:08
8 Posted 10/06/2020 at 11:41:02
Playing devil's advocate, however, thousands of "protesters" were allowed to march (and more!) shoulder to shoulder in direct contravention of social distancing rules, as Michael says, "totally flouting what's left of lockdown". As police forces up and down the country stood by and allowed this to happen, is there now a case for asking those same police forces to allow reduced and socially distanced crowds (no away fans!) into these football matches? That would allow this game to seem more like the home game, with the added advantages that brings, that it is supposed to be.
Just a thought, because I say, I don't believe this or any other Premier League match should be taking place at the moment.
9 Posted 10/06/2020 at 12:02:59
10 Posted 10/06/2020 at 12:39:58
Eric, like you, I hope they don't turn up but, if they do, it will be interesting to see the sort of treatment meted out by the police.
12 Posted 10/06/2020 at 13:01:56
So the race riots were madness and according to you the people who took part ran riot in the dubious name of democracy. Apart from a few in London, all the other protesters in marches across the country went off peacefullly without any arrests, but hey don't let the facts cloud your Daily Mail outlook.
Then you say about the football hooliganism jibe, well I guess the Everton fans who went looking for trouble this season miles from the ground and one was slashed across the face wasn't hooliganism. This was apparently 2 groups of fans deciding to meet up before a game for a fight.
Maybe you also thought Liverpool fans throwing cans and bottles at the Man City coach was just a bit of banter. And talking of law and order, despite about 40 Liverpool fans taking part in this riotous behaviour and despite there being a huge police presence no arrests were made.
So, if you think hooliganism doesn't exist, you are misguided.
13 Posted 10/06/2020 at 13:42:20
[BRZ]
14 Posted 10/06/2020 at 13:43:37
'The press as a whole in the UK has gone to shit since the advent of online publishing – the quantity of crap posted has lead to a worsening (which I didn't think possible) of journalistic integrity and overall quality, with a few notable exceptions.'
I keep reading such entries here on TW. I take a contrary view.
Sure, if you want to base your view on journalism on the tabloids you may have a case. And whilst the internet allows the whackiest of views, it is also a considerable platform for good.
There are many, many EXCELLENT independent, deeper- thinking media outlets doing great work.
Even main stream journalism gets a kicking at times it doesn't always deserve.
Here in Brazil they have been outstanding in the face of the malefice being perpetuated by the malignant and totally incompetent Bolsonaro.
Never more so this past week when Bozo BR and his Ministry of Health attempted to withhold and doctor the daily reported figures of the Covid-19 cases and deaths.
On Monday during the lunch time news it was announced that in the absence of total transparency - essential to understand the spread and plight of the pandemic - Brazil's major media players unified in an unprecedented act of collaboration to ensure the true figures would be reported daily.
They would utilize their national and local networks to ensure every state, city, town and village, no matter what size the municipality, would have their 24 hour Covid-19 returns registered and compiled into a single national figure by 8pm each evening which the nation's own Ministry of Health had started withholding.
I literally stood and applauded in front of the TV.
That was Monday. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health, backed down. Widely condemned worldwide, not just in Brazil for their evident attempts to hide the ever-burgeoning disasterous figures, reverted back to the open-to-all system they tried to censor.
It is the equivalent of the UK's Ministry of Health announcing after 3 months of reporting all data in an open transparent way, presenting two base numbers on an unknown criteria, but being shamed into reverting back due to a collaboration between BBC, ITV, Channels 4 and 5, Sky and BT, using their extensive national and local networks with a rapid intevention from the UK's highest court, the House of Lords.
It was a great day for free and democratic journalism.
15 Posted 10/06/2020 at 13:52:09
Yea????? What planet are you on?
16 Posted 10/06/2020 at 13:54:53
PS - when you click to read the item - it starts with an interview with Klopp!
17 Posted 10/06/2020 at 14:03:11
That's why most of the UK media is declining, and why the quality of UK debate/politics is plummeting.
18 Posted 10/06/2020 at 14:39:01
19 Posted 10/06/2020 at 14:46:27
I did wonder why MK used the term race riots. Seems to imply something or maybe just unfortunate language. MK is based in USA I believe and maybe that is how some over there (and here) view them.
20 Posted 10/06/2020 at 14:48:36
Give the little fucker his due. it was the best piece of rope-a-dope since Big George punched himself out on Ali. After cementing him in, they then spent two weeks desperately trying to resurrect the fight.
Dumb and Dumber (Morgan and Reid) are now living off the scraps from Naga Munchetty and Kay Burley's table. They are actually giving up-to-date reports of interviews taking place moments before on rival channels.
They have been completely outmaneuvered by the weasel cabinet ministers. They conducted themselves like Gobby thugs rather than serious reporters and, in the process, they have let them off the hook. Now, no fucker will go on their show. Dumb and Dumber have given them all the excuses they need.
The irony of course is, it's only about six months ago they both (by their own admission) voted the fuckers in.
We grew up with some fantastic journos down the years. Now, all we see is a group of sensationalists desperately competing with each other for the title of being the most outraged.
Independent news reporting in the country is dead. Every fucker thinks they can force their opinion on you.
21 Posted 10/06/2020 at 15:02:07
[BRZ]
22 Posted 10/06/2020 at 15:14:54
You know I've been saying for weeks to keep your eye on Brazil.
Today... tomorrow, we will replace the UK in 2nd place for mortality rates. We are already 2nd in the number of cases, behind only US.
At least the rest of the world actually waited for the curve to turn and go down. Not here. Still rising steeply and too many states letting 'normal' life resume.
Some still claiming lockdown was never necessary. Comparisons have been made to the Spanish Flu of 1918 when people were less mobile and populations lower. Spanish flu took more than a year back then to claim 35,000 Brazilian lives.
Covid-19 has taken just 3 months to zoom past that. Today, tomorrow it will be 40,000. Watch out, US of A. We are after your #1 spot.
24 Posted 10/06/2020 at 15:25:46
The internet has contributed to this because it provides a platform for mediocrity that every moron can capitalize on.
Anyway to make fast cash is the norm no matter who buys into it.
The most powerful man in the world is the prime example of a professional churning out his gobbleygook with total disregard for anyone else's integrity or feelings. No wonder the world is in such a sorry state.
25 Posted 10/06/2020 at 15:58:51
I agree totally with your comments.
You are the voice of common sense on ToffeeWeb.
26 Posted 10/06/2020 at 16:18:17
27 Posted 10/06/2020 at 16:42:47
How is your wife coping, Jay, and her elderly parents, is she still battling away on the front line?
I think of her and the thousands like her all over the world facing this virus head-on every day with, seemingly, no end to the patients arriving at the hospitals in their numbers. Hope they get some respite very soon.
28 Posted 10/06/2020 at 16:49:02
When you've got gangsters in the favelas, making curfews, then you've got major problems, Jay, but hopefully the loss of life hasn't affected the economy, because sometimes, it seems that some things are more important than life.
29 Posted 10/06/2020 at 16:58:00
32 Posted 10/06/2020 at 17:14:08
I do not know enough about Brazil or Bonzo to offer a sensible view but it is symptomatic that there are so many dictators around the world today reinforced by sycophants and the military. I just hope you and your family come safely out the other side.
On the subject matter, I don't think Goodison Park will be the issue but I do see Stanley Park as a potential nightmare.
All I hope and pray is that we beat the bastards and Man City win against Arsenal. That would at least make up for some of our recent disappointments.
33 Posted 10/06/2020 at 17:27:56
34 Posted 10/06/2020 at 17:32:29
Hope your wife is holding up well.
35 Posted 10/06/2020 at 18:08:12
The training during the lockdown is producing the results we expected.
37 Posted 10/06/2020 at 18:39:19
What race riots are these?
38 Posted 10/06/2020 at 19:57:48
39 Posted 10/06/2020 at 20:09:48
40 Posted 10/06/2020 at 20:18:43
41 Posted 10/06/2020 at 20:31:08
42 Posted 10/06/2020 at 20:35:32
43 Posted 10/06/2020 at 20:40:59
I replied by asking will they also take down the Steau Bukarest flags, and this got my red mate fuming, and asking me why we hadn't won the European Cup before Heysel!
He must have forgotten it was a cup for Champions in those days, and Liverpool won it 3 times in 4 years, or played in 5 finals in 9 years, which backs up my argument that only the great teams dominate, and our own class of 1984-85 was most definitely a great team.
44 Posted 10/06/2020 at 21:33:46
45 Posted 10/06/2020 at 22:27:13
Are 'pyrotechnics' fireworks?
If so in the 1960s, when I was about 10, we used to lob them at each other for fun.
(nb: not advocating it but enough with the drama).
As for the best way to avoid 'race riots' (!?), simply refuse to allow your country to tolerate decades of racism (institutionalised or otherwise) and make sure everyone is treated fairly.
I guarantee we'd all be living in a much fairer calmer nation right now had we not tolerated 50+ years of the insidious drip-drip-drip of hate, distraction and lies provided by Murdoch rags and filth like The Mail/Express etc.
"Beryl, he's doing it again - GAAAAAAHHH!!"
Up the Toffees!
46 Posted 10/06/2020 at 22:33:37
At a time when social distancing rules and the use of PPE are being recommended for everybody else, the Premier League clubs are asking their employees (the players) to go back to a place of work and do their job with no protection whatsoever. The last time I looked, football was still a contact sport and wouldn't therefore the players have the right to question whether or not their employer was carrying out their duty of care by knowingly putting them at risk in this way?
Personally, I don't believe that the national figures of new cases and deaths warrant an easing of the lockdown and they certainly don't in the North-West. Schools have refused to re-open because either local authorities – or the schools themselves – have identified the risks involved and are not prepared to expose their employees (nor the pupils) to those risks.
Why should footballers be any different? Cases at Watford, Tottenham and Brighton would suggest not. Until we're clear of Covid-19, or at least got it down to a much, much more acceptable level, bringing back football should be the last thing on our minds.
47 Posted 10/06/2020 at 22:36:29
48 Posted 10/06/2020 at 22:53:26
49 Posted 10/06/2020 at 23:02:36
50 Posted 11/06/2020 at 06:34:17
If Gone with the Wind has to go, Little Britain has to go because of it's "blackface" issue, then Dixie!'s statue needs protesting and pulling down asap. Never mind all the other "blackface" statues all around town.
Although I've never spoken about it, I have never been the same since Andy Pandy first started. I know he was an Evertonian but what he got up to with that naked bear in the laundry basket really affected me. Never looked at bears the same way, even when Paddington came along, another pervert.
51 Posted 11/06/2020 at 10:35:06
52 Posted 14/06/2020 at 00:43:43
Got so desperate thought I was going to start watching Bundesliga.
53 Posted 14/06/2020 at 12:09:02
54 Posted 14/06/2020 at 13:10:54
55 Posted 14/06/2020 at 13:39:51
56 Posted 14/06/2020 at 13:58:40
I understand all the different protocols now in place, but surely there must be a chance, albeit probably minimal, that someone testing negative today for example, could somehow contract the virus tomorrow?
Let's just hope we can finish this season with minimum fuss, and look forward to the next one, because, as far as I'm concerned, this season has been a total write off, and we all know the two reasons why the season will be completed.
57 Posted 14/06/2020 at 14:59:42
58 Posted 14/06/2020 at 15:31:30
While we're at it and a bit more off track, for anyone who collects matchday programmes, there will be a matchday programme produced for next week's derby match. The edition will be 68 pages, so not just a team sheet before any smart arses come on and say "it will probably just be a team sheet".
59 Posted 14/06/2020 at 15:49:26
60 Posted 14/06/2020 at 17:34:12
Definitely need the telly people to add some "fan noises" if it's going to be watchable. All I can hear is someone shouting "Benno Benno Benno!" or something and lots of "shoot shoot shoot!". Reminds me of playing in Sefton Park in the 80s.
62 Posted 14/06/2020 at 22:10:26
My mate called me too as a reminder, what a wonderful team that was, and what might have been.
Football... it's still a wonderful game... but it so needs the fans.
63 Posted 14/06/2020 at 23:07:34
64 Posted 15/06/2020 at 00:07:08
To view the clip, you may have to scroll down a little to findit.
65 Posted 15/06/2020 at 01:46:50
67 Posted 19/06/2020 at 00:16:08
...But the game is the start of a sequence in which the Blues have the opportunity to showcase their talents to a much wider audience than the usual 40,000 who fill Goodison in normal circumstances over the next four weeks.
Although all of the remaining Premier League fixtures are to be televised in one way or another, just a third of them will be shown on free-to-air channels and available to the general public rather than subscribers.
However, only one club in the top flight (Southampton with five) have so far had more free-to-air games confirmed than Everton.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
1 Posted 10/06/2020 at 10:36:26