Everton ban supporter for involvement in Lyon fracas

A crazy moment of madness gets this fella banned for life, whilst Koeman is waiting for millions to go quietly.

ps: CH stands for cart horse. 😁

If you are a fan you get done for assault but, when you are on the pitch a few yards away, the police aren't involved. Unless your name is Duncan Ferguson, of course.

Also, I think the whole fracas was initiated by Williams's over-reaction against their goalkeeper. Having said that, no fans should get involved, that's what the Officials are there for.

The whole incident coupled with the poor performance, for the most part, again magnifying the lack of confidence and spirit invoked by Koeman's poor management.

Violence because we were so poor on the pitch? Seriously? What sort of excuse is that?

Anaemic performances on the pitch.
Seemingly clueless and/or passionless manager.
Players' confidence somewhere beneath the Goodison Park pitch.
Good name dragged through the mud (on European level).
No excuses regarding finance as the squad has been expensively assembled.
No end in sight at present.

It's Friday afternoon.
As far as the football is concerned, roll on Monday.
(Though Champions' Day at Ascot and events at Wembley may, hopefully, ease the pain a little.)

I'm afraid this incident, whilst admittedly totally deplorable, is being overcooked. I mean the player involvement, not the so called 'fan' who deserves whatever punishment he gets.

Williams with his push was (unnecessarily) making a point after the penalty area shove by the goalkeeper which then escalated when the Lyon players remonstrated. I think, looking at it at the time, although irked the goalkeeper was going to let it go but just seemed to launch in when they started on Williams. And it went from there. A few seconds of madness.

Sure, there are fines, suspensions or whatever to be handed out but all this talk of 'behind closed doors' and stuff is OTT. We have all seen far worse than that scuffle.

But thinking about it, that wouldn't really be a punishment for us would it!

As for some of the reaction in the media and elsewhere, I'm afraid they love incidents like this and whilst it was 'shocking' there are many more important things in the world to be outraged about.

It was a shame that the incident happened, it hasn't helped the club's image but we move on to the next fixture and hopefully everybody behaves themselves and shows passion in a more acceptable way than Ashley and the sad Dad.

Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following the Uefa Europa League group stage match between Everton FC and Olympique Lyonnais (1-2), played on 19 October in England.

Charges against Everton FC:
- Aggressions by supporters against players - Art. 16 (2) (H) of the Disciplinary Regulations

This case will be dealt with by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on 16 November.”

I imagine there will be further charges against both clubs once the referee has submitted his match report to Uefa.

The ref did nothing to curtail it, no time added for it.

1. Aggression does not have a plural.
2. There was only one act
3. There was only one supporter
(4. He only used one arm)
5. It involved only one player.

Assuming one was arguing this case in English, this Article does not cover what happened.

That'd be a harsher punishment at the moment.

The fan base is now a secondary afterthought due to the TV money. I think fans should boycott the matches until they start listening to us. I'm sick and tired of these cretins.

Williams started the scuffle and, apart from risking reducing us to 10 men when we were finding it difficult enough with eleven, has dragged Everton's name through the mud across Europe.

On the football side, at least the side was set up with a bit of width although Mirallas failed to make the touchline and get a cross in.

Sigurdsson looked half decent in his central position and must start there against Arsenal. as must Davies. If Kenny is fit he must start, too. Holgate is a central defender and will never make a full back.

When will the penny drop, with Koeman, that round pegs don't fit into square holes?

I couldn't agree more, and Koeman has also said as much today, but that aggression has to be properly channelled!

Fan raises his hand – life ban.

Player makes racist remarks – 12 game ban?

Fan makes racist remark – life ban.

Seems pretty even doesn't it ??

Act now, Moshiri, or we are in serious, serious trouble. Btw, ban the stupid sod for life and sell Williams ASAP.

I think it's more about Everton attempting to mitigate any financial sanction by sacrificing the idiot fan.

Maybe Williams could be fined 2 weeks pay (the maximum allowed) for bringing the club into disrepute and this could go to offsetting the fine.

I haven't laughed too much since Martinez joined but I must admit that was good!

However, having seen his involvement several times in slow motion, he did NOT throw a punch at anyone.

He pushed a Lyon player away twice by "pushing" the players head with an open hand.

Before the baying mob come for me with pitchforks: "No, I do not condone his actions." I do like facts to be reported correctly though.

The ref decided he needed two scapegoats to send off. I think our one was Gary Stanley and theirs was Terry McDermot – someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I remember just stepping back and looking around the ground as the fight was in full flow. It was fucking bedlam. Evertonians and Kopite screaming abuse throwing imaginary punches, shaking their fist... Everyone wanted in.

The Times claimed 50,000 people left Anfield disgusted by the brawl... What a load of bollocks the place was on fire everyone absolutely loved it.

A friend and colleague, a West Ham supporter, told me that he thought we were "really interesting last night", Well, that is the most positive comment I have heard in a while.

Swap Williams for Duncan Ferguson. I suspect this will become the same type of thing. "At least Ashley cares", etc. I don't care about the ridiculous spat. We were utterly shite and acted like it.

Koeman is poor, the board are inept and the players are shameless. The common denominator is the utter contempt which they appear to have for the ordinary folk who spend their money to follow them. They do not deserve our loyalty.

Mad Everton fan attacks player.
Stabbed boy of 17 dies (very sad)
War hero attacked in own home.

Who the fuck produces the news and decides the order of importance, or is it because the first football club in the city doesn't carry the city's name?

Darren and Ray, yes I remember it as being 2-2 also. The ref could have sent off at least 3 players from each team if I remember it correctly.

Sadly some always seem to find ways to defend morons in these situations but, even by those standards, saying Williams is to blame is beyond any understanding.

I would add that Williams should never again wear the armband for our club. Yes, losing it like that on the pitch can happen to a player (I've been guilty of it more than once), but wearing the armband in an international match with the world watching carries with it an increased responsibility to represent the club with honor. And apologize when you fail to do so.

Regarding the fan, I'm less sympathetic than some here about the ban. If you're in the first row and it falls into your lap, that's one thing... but leaving your seat to move in and get involved is quite another, and bringing a kid into range is inexcusable. The police complaint is a bit over the top IMO, but this chap's permanent absence from Goodison is well deserved.

A Life Ban! How can the club do anything other than ban for life a supporter who allegedly hit the Lyon goalkeeper? After all, Uefa have opened disciplinary proceedings against Everton for "aggressions by supporters against players".

There is absolutely no doubt, no refutable evidence that an Everton fan made contact with a Lyon player. It was deliberate and indefensible. But a life ban? Really?

I listened today on Talksport to one of the best telephone phone-in calls I have heard in a long long time. I am sorry that I cannot recall the guys name to credit him.

Why are we fans treated markedly differently from the players, the so-called heroes that we follow? Time and time again, we watch and witness professional footballers carry out unacceptable behaviours that on any street, in any town, would be deemed to be assault or anti-social behaviour.

But do you know what, it's okay because it's football. Passions run high, it's part of the game, these things happen. You heard it from Ashley Williams, and you hear it repeated over and over by those in the game. Players, coaches, managers, TV and radio all excuse footballer anti-social behaviour because "passions run high and it's part of the game".

An Everton supporter has been reported today as having been given a life bamn for involving himself in a fracas/Melee in the Howard Kendall Gwladys Street Stand. He certainly wasn't anywhere other than in the stand. He most certainly was seen moving several yards toward numerous players who were out of control and scuffling on the apron of the pitch/hanging over into the fans stand.

But do you know what, several players ran many many more yards to involve themselves in the same scuffle, so surely moving toward the incident is not a crime. For crying out load, Jordan Pickford ran over 100 yards to join the melee. So, the life ban must be for striking a player. That's delectably fair. But only if it is consistent with other behaviours. Behaviours of players.

I do not see life bans for assault on a football pitch by players; I do not see life bans for assault and aggressive behaviour by coaches and managers. But to be fair to them, it's football, it is a passionate game, tensions run high and as we hear so many times, it's part of the game... and as I said, it's football.

So, I must be missing something here. It is clearly one rule for one and one rule for the others. Please for one second do not think that I condone the fan in question's actions, but the punishment is just not consistent and just not fair. A short term ban- yes. I believe it's 3 games if you are "outside of the law".

I know this post is controversial, but I hope it is balanced enough to be published. We fans deserve to be treated no differently to players and coaches, and I would like to think that ToffeeWeb would allow a sensible debate on such an important issue. One rule for one, and one rule for all.

My personal opinion: the two things are entirely different.

Football is a contact sport; players get angry; yes, they shouldn't face up or square off, but they do, nevertheless. And the regular punishments (red card, game ban) generally fit the crime.

But there is never, ever any excuse for a fan getting stuck in, and the life ban is totally 100% justified.

What would have happened if a player felt the contact from this fan and in the melee lashed out and hit the child? In these situations people lash out. No matter how angry, how pumped up you are, if you are with a child, that is your first and only concern. If you think that I am being judgmental, then shame on you.

Another angle, I have lived and worked abroad for the last 16 years or so, all over Asia, plus the Middle East, Eurasia and other places too. I try to promote Everton and I often have to defend my city to other ex-pats.

That last night saddened me, it really did. I am not some namby pamby liberal. Up until a decade ago, in my mid to late 30s, I was fighting pro-fighters on a regular basis, so I am not some pacifistic hippy. But those actions and the inevitable anti-scouse media backlash really did sadden me, though the media backlash was predictable to say the least!

The club seems to be able to do no right at the moment on every level. When you consider EitC it is a real shame indeed.

You make good points IMO.

When you play sport, you accept certain risks. Getting shoved in the head by a 'fan' is not one of them. A lifetime ban is harsh... but the guy has made a choice to do something that he knew was totally stupid and unacceptable.

Anyone calling for prison needs their head looking at.

"The police have joined forces with Everton Football Club and have appealed for anyone involved in Thursday night's shameful incident to step forward, admit their guilt and accept a life-time ban... So far, 40,000 people have come forward."

Also, the comments by people in general on the article, one particularly sticks with me, two words only: "Horrible Club" – I know we're not, but people tend to like to believe the worst, I personally don't think this has done the club any favours.

Banned for life for a heat of the moment incident where next to nothing happened... ridiculous.

Everton FC have a lot more important issues to sort out at the moment, acting a lot slower over these issues than an incident sensationalised by the national press.

Never got arrested from what I saw but Neanderthal to say the least. True to say though that there's not much going for us right now so somebody at the club needs to start changing things.

And ffs, if we're going to hit anyone, hit Koeman and Schneiderlin first. A dig in the chops might wake the pair up.

Lookman played well... Surprise, surprise.

What type of example was the so-called fan showing to the youngster? Would we all like to see a return to the violent times of the 70s and 80s? No, I thought not. The club had no option and has acted very professionally in dealing with this.

Some of the comments here are just so middle class and out of touch. Mark at 69 says banning is more than fair. As another said, banning the fan is a positive as he will not have to endure the slavery of going to watch an Everton match with terribly mediocre performances from players and our current manager on his current form being likened to a certain Frank Spencer ('Gizza job, Yozza Hughes') of football managers than he is the self-acclaimed 'master-tactitioner,' which he imprudently stated on his Twitter feed.

Imagine if you were that fan who was clearly fuelled and influenced by the excitement of the players, he may argue, which caused him to perceive that there was a real threat to Williams whereby, he (in his own mind) came to his (Williams) aid albeit more akin to shadow boxing than it was to an actual and existent threat to any players, notwithstanding if there was intent; he could easily have jumped on to the pitch to display his so-called thuggery-esque behaviour.

As to the local and national media, it's called subliminal, ie, planting an idea in the audience's mind so that convention (majority of people) agree that morally, he (the fan) should be punished. As for Everton's treatment of the fan in isolation to the scuffle which broke out between a short-fused but not terribly bright Williams (built more like a rugby player, or bouncer), what is the loss of one paying fan to the many thousands of faithful fans whose payments are more tremendous to the club.

As for Everton reporting the matter to police, this is clearly Everton's social policy; on the one hand, isolate the problem by apportioning blame on the fan's door in comparison to in-house treatment to Everton's human capital (players). Everton's public image: with such compartmentalisation, of the separation of its treatment to fans and its valuable players, it does not want to encourage scuffles (in this more softer age when compared to the 1980s where truncheon happy police were only too happy to give citizens a rather good pasting).

Unfortunately, some people are more valuable than others – even if this caused the fan to get a criminal record or criminal disposal (caution), in any event, it means the fan's life is ruined at his young age. The fan and the child with him has likely lost the opportunity of going to his favourite football team, like most of the faithful lot who persevere with Everton, season after season. Is it a form of slavery therefore?

Middle class criminals simply get better treatment in this country's criminal justice system, because they have more to offer the economy, whereas lower / working class criminals simply don't – whereby said middle class get softer punishment including community work and the other said classes at the bottom receive stiffer punishment... as their legal-aid lawyers are not up to the job of the well-paid barristers.

Okay. that was deep – but it required deep.

He has disgraced himself and the club which is bad enough at a national level but to do it at a European game really is not good. Class status does not even enter into the argument, IMO.

Everton FC are now a parody puppet of Sky TV, joining the bandwagon of middle class false outrage at 'those Liverpudlians'. It was the same years ago, made worse by Thatcher in the 80s for political means.

The Liverpool Echo constantly tries to humiliate working class people involved in petty crime, let's not indulge these twats. Let's not forget the real criminals who are feeding at the trough of government grants, and EU funding – swindling the taxpayer of billions.

Let's not forget Kenwright who has cheated the club out of millions and his chums likewise;its called asset stripping. Loaning money to your own business from dodgy banks in the BVI and bankrupting the club – is that really legal?

Lets say no to banning fans (I notice the Hajduk fans were punching stewards – what happened to them? Nothing; what will happen to the Lyon divers? Nothing).

Stop listening to Sky news, The Guardian and the BBC. Believe me – they have an agenda...

I think if anything you've shown yourself to be a very bitter, blinkered individual with that comment. The fact that you even raised the issue of 'class', in an incident where you know nothing of either party, suggests you have some major prejudice pervading your existence.

As a legal aid lawyer, who also is also paid vast amounts by middle class clients who are not eligible for Legal Aid, you have yet again shown yourself to have absolutely no idea of the state of the legal system. I find your comments to be offensive.

There is no place in football or any other sport for violence or aggression from its supporters. Of course the ban is appropriate.

Yob banned for shoving opposing player in the face.

Everton fan blames Thatcher.

Get a grip will you. Exactly the sort of crap that gives Scousers a bad name.

I go out with my son but no way would I run towards trouble with him in my arms... he's 38, 6-ft tall and about 15 stone.

I agree Oliver, there is no need for the non sequiturs; if anything, it shows they would rather attack the person (ad hominem) who dares to have a controversial view rather than critique the idea in itself. Of course, class plays a part, do you even know the history of this country?

No scouse attitude, no northern bitterness; fact.

Maybe this has its effect on people's viewpoints now and then.

You're right in that it's same old same old. Today however, it's not so much upper classes, but whether part of the digital plutocracy or not... or whether a threat to it.

He could say his name is Paul Zerdin with baby Sam.

Worth a shot.

He's front page of the Daily Mirror, he's all over Sky Sports News, he's been banned for life and all because he had a moment of madness and was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I might get hammered for this but the lad was probably about to get off out of the ground because he was as frustrated as most of us are, everyone has jumped all over him yet barely anyone has had anything to say over the Welsh captain and Everton's captain on the night throwing punches very close to the fans.

Williams spoke after the game and called it football!

Imo, Williams should be the one getting ribboned as he's the one who yet again has let the fans down.

Go figure that ethical equation.

Yes what he did was wrong and yes it was worse the fact he was holding his little lad but a lifetime ban. Really???

I love the moral high ground been taken by many here. Can all those here say that they have never done something in front of their child that they later regretted. I'm not sure.

It's a rush of blood. It was not a punch it was a push. It was a mistake no doubt and bad example but police and life time bans, excessive to say the least .

The behaviour of Williams was far worse during the incident and later when he pushed the Lyon player after scoring. Eric Cantona kung fu kicked a Palace fan and got a nine-month ban. This fan pushed a player and a lifetime ban. 100% correct, Michael? Really ?

Sorry to be so late in posting but when you said

"Totally correct that the fan has been banned. But if EFC are going to refer the matter to the police, they should also refer Williams for his actions off the field of play."

Did you not mean ON the field of play. His play this year has been bordering on the criminal.

Williams was an idiot and should be banned.

Our club comes out of this with it's reputation damaged.

Koeman benefits by the spotlight being diverted onto a bloke joining a fight carrying a young child. Something I have never seen before and I'm sure will never see again in this country.

By the way whether he slapped, punched, flayed, whatever, it is irrelevant, he was carrying a small child for Chris's sake. End of.

From what I saw, sitting in the Bullens Road upper stand, The Lyon goalkeeper pushed Williams (a possible penalty) and definitely a reason to be sent off for hands raised. Williams pushed back (another possible sending off offence) then a lot of French players rushed to push the pair of them right up and in one case at least, leaning over the ground perimeter barrier.

Action against massively paid professional players for incitement, right in front of and almost joining the crowd while they were so engaged, appears to have been yellow card issued to each side. Pathetic!
The referee was also culpable by allowing such a high level of gamesmanship, throughout the match by a a number of Lyon players. This frustrated players and fans alike. Again, I'm not condoning Williams action, or the fan's; but the action of those french players contributed

If this had taken place at the edge of the area, or further up field, the players from both sides ought to have been dealt with in a much stronger fashion.

As for the fan. What can you say when a man does that with a child in his arms? You could say a lot and it would all be accurate!

What really appalls me though, is the reaction of the media: and the subsequent comments on the social media, condemning all of us for the action of the players and one fan. Not on word did I see of criticism of the players (predominantly the Lyon players for pushing the initial spat right up to the perimeter barrier.

The press have yet again hyped up the action of one man, into an insinuation that somehow, our club AND ourselves are symptomatic of all that is perceived to be a reflection of Liverpool people.

https://twitter.com/InsideN17/status/921110841008717824

If that duty of care to a child extends to Everton, then a ban is appropriate. The length of that ban, for me, not appropriate.

What should happen to, or have happened to, the players is another matter.

Agree with Brent, the length of the ban is wrong, even though this fella, has made a holy show of himself.

The club have got to be seen to be doing the right thing, and whilst I applauded them over giving Jose Baxter, a second chance, then surely a life ban, is pushing it to the extremes?

I joked earlier about the kid being made-up, but I know how much the match used to mean to me and my kids, when we never lived together, and I for one am really gutted for this fella now.

At last, a balanced and reasonable approach.

With this media conveying ideas, the likelihood is that people may see the fan's perspective rather than the fan being the, as you call him, 'the prat.'

Or, the media said, 'The UK's involvement in Iraq is obviously about oil and unfortunately it also means the effect of the UK's link with financial entities at world government level will force loans on Iraq thereby destroying the country; create foreseeable ISIS entities of its religious but quite extreme communities who'll kill many; also scapegoating Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein and cause him to be murdered at the Hague, all for a controlled media distortion.'

It is all about perception - the same stories can be conveyed from various perspectives.

I've read a lot of them and your posts included. Good discussions on many aspects of where this club is at right now.

This post, however, was about a man slapping/hitting/pushing a player.

The fact that the media are wallowing with glee in the incident is, in my opinion, an aspect that is important enough for us to comment on. The implication, that I see, is that it isn't just a critism of one man, as idiotic as he was, the media ppear to be using the incident as a swipe at all of us.

Anyone who has played the game at any level will have witnessed/become involved in this type of incident.

Fans pay to "watch" the game and in no way should become physically involved in what happens on the pitch, this goes for all levels of the game.

No excuses, the fellas a moron.

Our usually very good PR has suffered this week which is no good for the club or its supporters.

At the time, I was agency driver for Tesco. I watched the drivers and they were saying, 'thugs' about the students. However, the drivers are not going to be in debt for the rest of their lives or be ripped off.

As I say it's all about the media and perception. I think society is so controlled subliminally.