Everton release statement on supporters' matchday conduct

Lyndon Lloyd 06/01/2023 17comments  |  Jump to last

Everton have moved to remind fans of the club's zero-tolerance stance on matters like pitch invasions and smoke canisters, warning transgressors that perpetrators face stadium bans or criminal prosecution.

The club has been handed fines by the Football Association in connection with fans encroaching onto the playing area last season, particularly during the decisive match in the Blues' battle to avoid relegation last season, the 3-2 win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in May.

Palace boss Patrick Vieira was taunted by fans on the pitch after the final whistle and kicked out at one individual but no charges resulted from that incident.

Additionally, blue "flares" became a feature of the fevered atmospheres at home games during the run-in to season 2021-22 but Richarlison's decision to pick one canister up and throw it back into an empty corner of the Gwladys Street stand led to the player being retroactively punished while also raising questions over supporter safety.

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The club's move comes in the wake of more worrying incidents at Manchester City on the final day of last season when Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen was the subject of a minor physical attack from fans on the pitch while a Sheffield United player was assaulted by a Nottingham Forest fan a few weeks earlier.

A statement posted on evertonfc.com today reads, in part:

Following a smoke bomb being thrown on to the pitch during Tuesday night’s home match against Brighton & Hove Albion, the Club has reaffirmed its commitment to the Premier League, FA and EFL’s collective stance in tackling anti-social and criminal behaviour at football matches and is required to work with the authorities to identify any individuals who take part in such unacceptable behaviour.

CCTV is available to both the Club and law enforcement authorities and can be used as evidence in enforcing bans and criminal prosecution in the days and weeks after any incident has occurred, regardless whether any perpetrators have been detained on a matchday or not.

Any prosecution could result in a criminal record, which may affect current and future employment, or for young people current or future education opportunities. In some cases prosecution could result in a prison sentence.

The Club also imposes its own sanctions, such as revoking season tickets and imposing lifetime stadium bans, on any supporters found to have engaged in anti-social/criminal behaviour at any Club matches whether at Goodison Park or at any away stadiums.

All supporters are urged to understand that if the Club fails to comply with Goodison Park’s Ground Safety Certificate, the Club will face punishment which could include a partial or full closure of the stadium to supporters.

 

Reader Comments (17)

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Tony Abrahams
1 Posted 06/01/2023 at 12:25:20
Who said the club aren't being proactive?

They have just released a statement about crowd behaviour on matchdays, which is both incredible, and also a warning.

Whilst Rome burns.

Peter Carpenter
2 Posted 06/01/2023 at 14:43:38
Tony,

There's a weird photo accompanying that warning. It's a seat covered up with 'BANNED FOR USING SMOKE BOMBS' on it.

I am wondering:

1. Why don't they resell the seat,

2. If they want to make an example of him/her who used to sit there, why not parade him/her hooded and in chains around the ground at half-time? Or...

3. Hang him/her from the Top Balcony?

And if this is a sign of things to come at the Paranoid People's Club, are we going to see further seats out of action for CHANTED SACK THE BOARD, JOINED SIT-IN PROTEST, LOOKED AT DIRECTOR'S BOX WITH MENACE, INSULTED DEAR LEADER?

What an increasingly weird club.

John Cartwright
3 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:05:01
This lousy board can't tolerate genuine and worried supporters drawing attention to the deplorable state of affairs both on and off the pitch – brought about by their neglect and gross incompetence.
Michael Boardman
4 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:13:50
They can release this, but not an AGM agenda.

To be fair, we're knackered if we transgress these rules again – if anyone's going to lose points more than a diver that's not Chinese at a Chinese Olympics, it's us!

Neil Copeland
5 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:26:50
There were some loud bois when the smoke bomb came onto the pitch although it was unclear to me if that was in response to Brighton scoring or the act of throwing a smoke bomb or maybe both.

The club has to demonstrate to the authorities that it will not tolerate such behaviour otherwise we face further sanctions.

I would like to think that privately Moshiri recognised the smoke bomb as a further act of demonstration against the board (which is how I interpreted it). The problem being that he is reliant upon second hand feedback from club officials and we all know how that is likely to be reported to him.

Ian Pilkington
6 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:43:59
I did see one flare on the pitch on Tuesday night, thrown I think after the 3rd or 4th goal, but this statement suggests to me that this cowardly Board is running scared of the proposed NSNOW sit-in, despite it presumably taking place off the pitch in the stands.
Eddie Dunn
7 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:48:31
The board are thrashing around desperate to silence any signs of rebellion.
Kenwright's Empire stikes back.
Brian Murray
8 Posted 06/01/2023 at 16:10:14
Eddie.self preservation at its finest to hell with the consequences. Disgusting but true
Nick Page
9 Posted 06/01/2023 at 16:16:35
Eddie, lol!! Emperor Kenwright and Darth Baxendale. The scourge of the (Everton) Galaxy
Brian Murray
10 Posted 06/01/2023 at 16:25:41
Nick. and the the planning and strategy is from Uranus
Jason Hewly
11 Posted 06/01/2023 at 18:42:59
Good. Ban them for life. I don't know what possesses these idiots who bring smoke bombs and flares to a football match, it's idiotic.

As for the pitch invasions. They're ridiculous too. I'd have no problem if Viera had chinned that idiot.

Gary Johnson
12 Posted 06/01/2023 at 18:45:03
Jason “Victor Meldrew” Hewley. Give ye head a wobble ye nark.
Jason Hewly
13 Posted 06/01/2023 at 18:49:43
Gary, I'm not Vic Mel, I just think that people should be able to behave themselves and not throw fireworks. I can't see why that would be contentious.
Tony Abrahams
14 Posted 06/01/2023 at 18:54:28
What’s contentious is what you said about Vierra, Jason, because there was quite a few sensible people who instantly helped diffuse a serious situation, especially because Patrick was the one who retaliated, to a divi who was inexplicably trying to wind him up.
Jason Hewly
15 Posted 06/01/2023 at 19:08:41
Tony, so if a guy ran up to you and started hurling abuse in your face, you wouldn't react?

There's nothing contentious in what I said, the guy was a prick and would have deserved a kicking.

Tony Abrahams
16 Posted 06/01/2023 at 19:13:43
It’s not what I would have done Jason, it’s how many sensible people reacted and diffused the situation is what I was talking about.

There is a cracking two minute WhatsApp video, doing the rounds now showing the massively positive side of Evertonians. Of course you get a couple of divi’s, but football without emotion, would be worthless, and if Evertonians never had much emotion, the club would have been finished a long time ago.

Jason Hewly
17 Posted 06/01/2023 at 19:17:34
Tony, fair enough. You make a good point. I'm fine with emotion as long as it doesn't bubble over. Arguably, we'd have been relegated last season without the emotion of the support.

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