UPDATED The decision on whether the upcoming derby game on June 21 can be played at Goodison Park or should be moved to a neutral venue will not now be taken until Wednesday at the earliest.
The final decision rests with Liverpool City Council's safety advisory group after most local entities (the police, the mayor, the clubs) have all expressed their support for the game going ahead at Goodison Park.
Apparently, the relevant documents were not received by members of SAG until last Friday and they need more time to read them.
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. And the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, has spoken out in favour of the game going ahead at Everton's home ground:
“We are in a better place than we were four weeks ago and we've been able to convey why it's so important nobody congregates outside or near grounds,” the Mayor told The Athletic.
“We have had the opportunity since then to speak to fans and the clubs have done their part and got the message across that the supporters need to stay away. Both clubs have made it clear.
“So I would have no objection to the games being played at our clubs' home grounds, both the derby at Goodison and Liverpool's games at Anfield.”
The next SAG meeting was expected to be on Friday but Joe Anderson has indicated it will be brought forward to Wednesday to reduce the uncertainty moving forward.Reader Comments (22)
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2 Posted 08/06/2020 at 12:05:08
3 Posted 08/06/2020 at 12:26:05
4 Posted 08/06/2020 at 12:35:30
5 Posted 08/06/2020 at 12:42:59
6 Posted 08/06/2020 at 13:06:37
7 Posted 08/06/2020 at 13:13:54
8 Posted 08/06/2020 at 13:21:10
There needs to be a big campaign from TV companies and government to warn people from doing it. It won't solve the problem but it may help a bit.
9 Posted 08/06/2020 at 13:23:41
10 Posted 08/06/2020 at 13:24:06
11 Posted 08/06/2020 at 13:38:28
12 Posted 08/06/2020 at 13:53:06
Social distancing under those circumstances? Impossible. A Ryanair flight would be a safer option.
13 Posted 08/06/2020 at 14:00:34
Whilst I would never lump our fans in with those horrible bastards. There are an awful lot of Evertonian's who will not be able to refrain from taking to the streets if we do beat them.
Once again we find ourselves in a no win situation.
If they win. They WILL pour onto the streets and you cant bet your house that they will be excused for their "understandable exuberance".
if we win. It would only take one Evertonian on the street for us to be labeled bitter irresponsible virus spreaders celebrating our "cup final"
One of these days we will really twat them. If this match has to go ahead. Let it be now
14 Posted 08/06/2020 at 14:01:23
The R value is already creeping up so they allow this? The bloody lot of them are a disgrace.
15 Posted 08/06/2020 at 14:19:03
FFS, even Alan McAnally on SSN said last week, even if the shite were to play Brighton away needing to win to win the league, people would be deluding themselves if they thought RS fans wouldn't congregate outside The Amex stadium. I'm surprised he hasn't been lynched already for that comment, so offended are the RS by every comment against their glorious club / fans.
Everton need to take a firm stance and say they will not play the game unless it's at Goodison. We all know, or course, that will never happen. Why should we forfeit any small advantage we'd have just because of the most vile scumbag fans on this earth?
[BRZ]
16 Posted 08/06/2020 at 14:20:09
Only one league allowed fans into the stadium - Croatia, I think it was - as the club were to be crowned champions. Supporters were asked to maintain social distancing. They all packed together behind one goal in an otherwise 3/4 full stadium.
In Hungary, they filmed outside the stadium with fans using many ways to peer over the 3 metre perimeter wall: step ladders, standing on truck cabins, using a truck with a lift for changing street lights, etc.
In Cyprus, 100s accumulated on roof tops overlooking the stadium.
Good luck if you think there is not going to be any large gatherings of the 'bours desperate to be crowned champions wherever and whenever they play.
It will be a badge of honour to claim 'I was there'.
17 Posted 08/06/2020 at 14:40:22
If we still had terraces, I think we could start allowing fans into the grounds. We could have cut the capacity by two thirds, handed out a few masks, and let the fans decide how much they socially distance. That's been the way it's gone not just on the protest marches, but also on the beaches when it was sunny.
There seems to be a clear divide now between those who are still shitting themselves and want everything to stay shut, and those who have taken the loosening of the lockdown restrictions to mean "anything goes - but bring a mask".
There's absolutely no doubt whatsoever that there will be big crowds on the streets when the RS take the crown. Some will make a token effort to socially distance, but once a few cans have been sunk, it will be a free for all. Makes no difference if the game is at Goodison or in Timbuktoo, the kopites will be out in force. Mayor Joe knows it, the police know it, Klopp knows it, the government knows it. To suggest otherwise is a joke.
18 Posted 08/06/2020 at 14:50:11
Maybe the authorities might actually be right for once, because if Liverpudlians, think they can go and congregate outside Goodison, who knows what the response would be? And It wouldn't take long for a situation to get out of control, especially considering it's obvious many people are now on very, very, very short fuses.
19 Posted 08/06/2020 at 15:06:39
And that somewhere is less likely to be at Anfield (??) and more likely to be in town and Stavanger? At Goodison, they can only infect each other. In town might be a different matter.
I can't say I'm arsed about them winning the league (though I'd never want them to clinch it against us) and I'm not arsed if they congregate outside GP if it's a choice between there and in town.
21 Posted 09/06/2020 at 07:05:05
Mind you, our neighbours have form. A relatively few idiots caused Heysel – which apparently never happened according to the history of LFC – the outcome was the rest of us suffered and they literally got off Scot free.
If there are any "issues" either at the derby or whenever they clinch the league, for sure it will be everyone else's fault and not theirs. That bastion of righteousness the SOS will no doubt lead that call.
I am afraid the authorities, the Premier League, clubs and players have not covered themselves in glory since this virus hit, and, unfortunately, I include my own club.
22 Posted 09/06/2020 at 16:39:45
Likely as not, all the RS hanging out down the Park End and our lot along Goodison Road or Gwladys Street. I don't know if preventative measures could be carried out but I would expect a neutral venue to be appointed to avoid the issue.
23 Posted 09/06/2020 at 21:22:42
Everton should refuse to play, give them 3 points, and go on holiday until this madness gets resolved.
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1 Posted 08/06/2020 at 11:47:03
Anyone believing the Kopites will not be crawling all over the streets is deluding themselves