Seasons2021-22Everton News
Richarlison charged for 'flare'-throwing incident

Richarlison has been charged by the Football Association for throwing a smoke canister back into the stands during the crucial victory over Chelsea last month that played a key role in ensuring Everton's Premier League survival.
Having scored early in the second half of the contest at Goodison Park, the Brazilian picked up the blue "flare" that had been hurled onto the pitch and threw it back into an empty area in the corner of the stadium.
Though match referee, Kevin Friend, took no action, Richarlison has been censured by the FA, with a statement posted to Twitter today saying:
“Richarlison de Andrade has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following Everton's Premier League fixture against Chelsea on Sunday 1 May 2022.
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“It is alleged the forward's conduct in the 46th minute of the fixture was improper. He has until Wednesday 8 June 2022 to provide a response.”
Richarlison's immediate response was to post to the social media platform an image of himself holding the smoke canister, one of the enduring images of what was an emotionally-charged campaign to avoid the drop this past season.
Reader Comments (62)
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2 Posted 01/06/2022 at 12:36:58
Does it matter? – you may ask… Well, a flare creates heat and has a naked flame which can cause a fire. The smoke thingy he threw creates no heat at all and works purely on a chemical reaction.
Does it matter? I think that it matters to be clear what he actually threw and he be charged correctly.
Should he have picked it up? No, he was at fault for that.
Did he endanger anybody by his actions? No, he didn't because he threw it in an unused (by the public) part of the stadium. It could be claimed he was removing it from the pitch to a place of safety.
Still in the wrong and he still shouldn't have picked it up? Am I glad he did? Yes, I am – because he created some iconic photos that'll last forever.
3 Posted 01/06/2022 at 12:37:44
Technically he threw it back into the terraces, so never mind truth or common sense, as you say, Michael, bang to rights... a fine, suspension, extraction of teeth?
I hope the club has CCTV and it shows where he threw it exactly. I hope it clears him, vindictive bar stewards!
4 Posted 01/06/2022 at 12:45:46
It's clearly thrown into the crowd-free area. To anyone who has never been to the ground or has no idea of layout, it "looks" as though he is throwing it into the crowd... but he isn't.
5 Posted 01/06/2022 at 12:56:57
The charge is so open-ended, they can decide any reason they like...
Or was it because he was in blue?
6 Posted 01/06/2022 at 13:18:09
7 Posted 01/06/2022 at 13:37:39
8 Posted 01/06/2022 at 14:12:07
9 Posted 01/06/2022 at 14:14:04
10 Posted 01/06/2022 at 14:20:22
The man is a hero. Whatever he chooses to do in the summer, he's a great Evertonian.
12 Posted 01/06/2022 at 14:36:44
Harvey Elliott: Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool midfielder made mistake with flare
13 Posted 01/06/2022 at 14:46:04
“Shove your fucking charge right up your fucking arse”.
Anyone know where I can send that too?
14 Posted 01/06/2022 at 15:11:33
The throwing it in an empty section of the crowd is all good and proper, however that part is located towards the disabled section of the ground, as it happened his aim was spot on, but the people in the section below could have caused panic or stress.
I know someone said it was not a flare, does not generate heat or a flame, that's fair enough, but doubt if I was sat there I would suddenly turn into Einstein and think "Hey, that's not a flare!"
It is a great iconic moment him holding it, I just thought it was wrong even though an empty section that he threw it towards there.
Young kids will not know the difference between a flare or the blue smoke bomb, one generates heat as mentioned by another poster, a young lad tries to recreate this with a flare, kid then gets badly burned, that's the kind of scenario it could cause.
Put it another way, if an opposition player was taking a corner, and one of those blue smoke bombs landed near his feet, the opposing player picked it up and threw it in that empty section, how many would be screaming from the Gwladys Street and demanding he faces a disciplinary charge?
Had Richarlison then put it down by the side of the pitch, that for me would have been fine, it was the throwing into a section of the ground, empty or not, that was wrong in my view.
15 Posted 01/06/2022 at 15:19:47
I'm also not too sure if that area of the ground is completely empty, it's certainly not as full as other places in the ground but isn't it an area reserved for disabled supporters?
The flares do look good, but they do provide an extra hazard and can be dangerous, particularly in a stadium that has lots of wooden stands.
It was a spur-of-the-moment reaction by Richarlison and initially it looked as if he was going to throw it directly into the Street End, but paused for thought and threw it towards the church, no damage done as far as I know.
A lad at the Palace match fired up a flare right in front of me, and for the next few days I had that horrible taste in my mouth and every time I washed by hands and face the white towel turned blue.
I'm not complaining as it helps me to remember the game, but I'm not sure that flares have a place inside the stadium, or amongst large crowds... can we see a return to good old-fashioned ticker tape?
16 Posted 01/06/2022 at 15:31:05
17 Posted 01/06/2022 at 15:59:11
I went back and watched multiple times after this game a few weeks ago, intrigued by Christine's assertion that the area he threw it to was an empty space. I don't know Goodison Park well, so I was very curious.
Christine is 100% accurate. The area, and again I've watched this multiple times, is sparsely occupied. Were I Richarlison, I'd counter that he picked it up as a safety measure and deposited it where there were very few bodies. If anyone counters with the "gusto" he showed while throwing the smoke bomb, if I were him, I'd say he was emotionally charged from the goal, and then anger got the best of him as he was upset that an Everton fan would endanger the players and other fans by throwing this, and it took away the moment a bit for him, causing the anger and the aggressive throw of the smoke bomb.
That's what I would do and how I would respond.
I'm beginning to really detest the powers that be who run the Premier League and the FA. There's such a double standard it's sickening.
18 Posted 01/06/2022 at 16:09:54
This will soon be followed with a charge for the pitch invasion at the Palace game.
19 Posted 01/06/2022 at 16:13:11
I've got an email address for you you can send that message to: dickheadincharge@thefa.com
That should get it to the right person, mate.
20 Posted 01/06/2022 at 16:21:48
21 Posted 01/06/2022 at 16:32:18
No doubt an 'independent' panel will come up with a lengthy ban to start next season.
Now just wait and see what they come up with in terms of the pitch invasion after Calvert-Lewin's goal (this will be so as to differentiate us from the other pitch invasions that took place after the final whistle). Will the 12th man also get a ban? I'd put nothing past these bastards.
Advice to Richie – take some heat-generating flares to their 'impartial' hearing and ram them right up the panel where the sun don't shine. I'm looking forward to seeing those iconic photos.
22 Posted 01/06/2022 at 16:38:57
The flares do look good, but they do provide an extra hazard and can be dangerous, particularly in a stadium that has lots of wooden stands.
Barry, it wasn't a flare. Read post No 2.
23 Posted 01/06/2022 at 16:47:18
The Telegraph have claimed a number of top-flight clubs are pushing for change after another season filled with VAR controversy. A potential avenue to be explored is said to be the re-appointment of Webb in a senior position to the Professional Game Match Officials [PGMOL].
Webb is currently in a similar role in the MLS, where the current league season does not end until December.
Brian @22
Thanks for informing me once again, I did reply to you on the other thread. Message received and understood.
24 Posted 01/06/2022 at 17:02:26
25 Posted 01/06/2022 at 17:03:50
I can't recall the day I first noticed the area in the corner of Gwladys Street had been altered, I would think that it would have been on the first day of a season. My initial thought was that it would be for disabled fans. I must confess that I have never noticed anyone sitting there, but I pay no attention to it once the game gets underway. Perhaps someone who sits in the vicinity, could shed some light on the matter.
From my seat in the Park End, 100+ yards from the smoke-bomb incident, I would be unable to say with any conviction whether or not there were spectators in that area. I think that it was a rash thing for Richarlison to do, but I can understand his reaction, a vital moment in a highly-charged fixture; however, I also think that the FA will come down strictly on the 'offence', to justify their position of authority.
I can see both sides of the argument, and I also think that,t rather than a fine or suspension, a stern warning should be inflicted, should the decision go against Richarlison. A slap on the wrist would be a sensible thing to administer, but 'sensible' is not the way of the FA.
26 Posted 01/06/2022 at 17:10:29
Plead not guilty, string it out and make the FA a laughing stock.
27 Posted 01/06/2022 at 17:11:12
28 Posted 01/06/2022 at 17:21:45
Brian #14 and Barry #15, I reluctantly accede to your view of this incident. The charge does seem silly on its face, but personally I wouldn't know that a flare is hot but a smoke bomb isn't, and if I saw that thing headed at me, I would be ducking and running.
Certainly the fact that Richarlison aimed his toss into an empty area should work in his favor but, if it had accidentally gone in a different direction, it might have produced a bit of panic -- and as we've seen too often this year, his accuracy cannot always be counted on!
Jamie #17, in certain corners of our bizarre nation, throwing a smoke flare towards a church would be considered domestic terrorism.
29 Posted 01/06/2022 at 17:49:31
“Improper conduct” is attacking the visiting team's bus as it approaches the ground, a manager running to the centre circle to celebrate a goal, and they were all heavily punished... er, wait a minute, maybe I've got that wrong!
30 Posted 01/06/2022 at 17:51:47
Jamie #17, in certain corners of our bizarre nation, throwing a smoke flare towards a church would be considered domestic terrorism.
Mike, might that depend on the denomination of the church?
31 Posted 01/06/2022 at 17:53:27
32 Posted 01/06/2022 at 19:11:51
If they do fine him, it should be a slap on the wrist. Same with Frank. This is getting ridiculous.
Someone needs to start a VAR mess-up list followed by no action from the FA in response to said mess-ups, starting with Man City no-call-handball incident.
I honestly wonder how long that list would be for the season past? 25 incidents? 50? 100?
33 Posted 01/06/2022 at 19:33:46
We stayed up without that penalty, and if it had been properly called, the RS would have been parading the Premier League trophy through downtown Liverpool.
As my Buddhist wife says, everything happens for a reason.
34 Posted 01/06/2022 at 19:34:25
35 Posted 01/06/2022 at 20:20:45
37 Posted 01/06/2022 at 20:54:52
You are no doubt correct in stating that "Every Merseyside Blue is now ecstatic with the Manchester City no-call hand-ball incident". But at the time it was a disgraceful decision, which could have sealed our fate.
It seems to be true that "For every action, there's a reaction" but having to wait a number of weeks for it to be proven isn't ideal.
38 Posted 01/06/2022 at 21:31:20
I asked a couple of weeks ago what was Ronaldo's punishment for assaulting that boy at Goodison Park and breaking his phone? Did the FA ever charge him? But of course he plays for a Sky Sports Team!
39 Posted 01/06/2022 at 22:09:53
In truth, Harvey Elliot's celebration with a smoke canister is worse than Richarlison's, his was a celebration, Richarlison was a removal, not a celebration. One gets a smack on the wrist, the other a probable ban. Two-faced.
40 Posted 01/06/2022 at 23:15:07
Are you just counting incidents in our games.
Mike #33,
Yes, I am surprised the RS haven't lodged a complaint. Maybe the Gordon penalty wasn't given to even things up. Two wrongs making it right in the FA's eyes.
42 Posted 02/06/2022 at 07:48:46
In the 1990s, I was a President of a local successful football club which won the South Island Top Division, 3 years on the trot. The Football Association tried to bully us, making fresh rules so we would lose. However, we had a Barrister QC on our Committee and we warned the FA that, if they refused to follow the existing rules, then we would see them in Court. Guess what? The FA backed down.
Now why can't something similar happen in the UK? If those 12 Clubs agreed to take a Class Action to sue the FA, Premier League, Referees etc, or demand action from the Minister of Sport, I am sure action would be taken quite soon. Trouble is nobody in our club seems to have the courage to start the ball rolling.
I don't really blame Moshiri – after all, he bought the shares to become the owner. Who from, I wonder?! And how much of that money did that person put back into the club?
And Moshiri as ploughed millions of pounds into Everton on some very bad advice from his Chairman, I hope he has learned his lesson now and finds a new Chairman and Board of Directors. This anti-Everton has to stop.
43 Posted 02/06/2022 at 08:36:37
At the moment he is in South Korea with Brazil, with South Korea being 8 hours ahead of us. They play each other tonight. Brazil then play Japan next Tuesday, with Japan also 8 hours ahead of us.
So how exactly is he going to answer this charge, or will the club do it on his behalf?
44 Posted 02/06/2022 at 08:54:27
This is a conspiracy after what Lampard said first about his little girl knew it was a penalty against Man City, and the non-penalty at that hell-hole. How many decisions went against us? I'd be here all day naming them.
Like Christine said, that was thrown into nowhere, an empty space. What's to answer. It's the latest in a long line. Why doesn't our board or whoever stand up to these morons?
45 Posted 02/06/2022 at 10:31:43
Without knowing the player that well, we all know how passionate an Evertonian he is. He picked up that blue item, as he knew it would endear him to the crowd and show that he is with us. Maybe not a sensible action for club PR, but what a sight for the fans and we are rightly making the most of an iconic moment.
He will probably get a two-game ban and a fine. Who cares, it was fantastic, no-one was hurt… pay the money and move on. It is a great tee-shirt! COYB.
46 Posted 02/06/2022 at 10:52:49
Its the sewer pipe of the English game and consistently adapts double standards and Everton the last 5 years have been disadvantaged, consistently.
Frank speaks up after the RS game and gets fined.. Slippy speaks up about Moss after Villas game with the RS, and gets off with no fine.
But in adversity it makes the spirit of Evertonians, more resilient and so on to this pre season.
Lets see what happens in the next couple of weeks in the transfer market.
47 Posted 02/06/2022 at 11:16:42
Leeds fans to a man threw thousands of objects at the opposing team and onto the pitch and it hasn't been mentioned since.
We need a good PR executive with the sole role of putting the same questions that the fans are asking to the various bodies with a request for equality and consistency.
48 Posted 02/06/2022 at 12:05:11
Surely a competent club would have a proper PR to point out the Leeds example plus Gerrard's outburst and so on. We really need to wise up on that score and not let us be their whipping boys.
49 Posted 02/06/2022 at 12:06:21
Also the Hull fans throwing cups of god knows what at EFC players taking throw ins during the 2nd half of the FA Cup tie last season.
50 Posted 02/06/2022 at 12:28:08
51 Posted 02/06/2022 at 12:33:42
Not for them their bread and butter, nor the Top 6 – they choose a big club without the clout of Sky or the media... Everton. Patsy. Perfect for the FA.
Time and time again, whatever the flavour of the month, Everton fit the bill. Niasse, Lampard, Richarlison… what's the betting we will be the only club fined for pitch invasion in the Premier League? Or fined for FFP?
We need to say enough, is enough, we need to get legal, employ quality barristers to challenge them. Change is required, transparency in decision making, fairness and commonsense. We need teeth. Sometimes, if you keep rolling over, you become an embarrassment or you get hurt.
Part of any Strategic Review should be how to counter insinuation, alleged issues and charges as a club. Fight everything, do not give an inch.
52 Posted 02/06/2022 at 12:50:17
53 Posted 02/06/2022 at 12:58:05
Nationality has nothing to do with it as any club could only appoint a legal team who are able to practice law in England and Wales.
Unless it was an international issue, which in this case, it isnt.
54 Posted 02/06/2022 at 15:28:59
Anybody who thinks he, or anybody else who acted in such a calm and non-threatening manner, should be carpeted for it is an authoritarian nut in my opinion.
Worrying about kids getting the wrong safety message is a bit pointless as many of the parents have (rightly) no issues with the smoke bombs – as was clearly shown by how many kids were wafting them around at The Emirates. Maybe we should ban the Olympic torch if we are really concerned they might confuse the smoke bombs with a hissing, spluttering and heat-radiating flare?
55 Posted 02/06/2022 at 18:22:18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2l_vxMGI4Y
The play starts at 1:15. It's Richi's fourth goal in his last three national team games.
Brazil looked like world-beaters.
56 Posted 02/06/2022 at 18:45:09
57 Posted 02/06/2022 at 20:13:37
59 Posted 02/06/2022 at 21:18:50
I doubt it very much if our own club is any example. They never make any comments at all apart from acting as Yes men to Bill Kenwright – and he just thinks we have had 'our good times'. This Premier League is a stinking mess and nothing will be done to clean it up.
60 Posted 03/06/2022 at 07:30:57
Frank's comments in comparison to other managers are soft but still question referees' independence and fairness, something that will always bring a fine. He just needs to word his disappointment and disagreement differently.
61 Posted 03/06/2022 at 07:44:10
I try not to swear – but with reading that post, I just give up! Methinks though a certain lady will be sending a post in reply.
62 Posted 03/06/2022 at 12:35:25
So Justin, he should just bend over and take it like a man? No mealy mouth words or thinly veiled critiques of referee.
Lampard is telling the truth as he and most of the rest of the Premier League see it. He, of all people, having played at the top level, speaks with the credibility of experience – something we don't have – which makes his viewpoint even more succinct.
"We just need to accept it and move on."
Why? Because, until somebody says "No", nothing will change and we will acquiesce next time and the next... The Mugs of the Premier League.
Not for me Justin... not for me.
63 Posted 03/06/2022 at 13:59:23
65 Posted 03/06/2022 at 17:43:16
We've "moved on" countless times and got nowhere; time to grow a pair and stop being pathetic victims time and again.
66 Posted 03/06/2022 at 21:54:57
I woke up shivering this morning, then read your post and that warmed me up! I still have a gripe with the FA though.
They are asking Richarlison for a "Please Explain" – an incident that happened after the incident with Ronaldo with the boy's broken phone. Will they ever charge Ronaldo with anything? Like I said, it's anti-Everton.
67 Posted 09/06/2022 at 12:59:12
Sad if true, but I cannot blame him. I hope he goes to Real Madrid though, I would hate to see him playing against us.
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1 Posted 01/06/2022 at 12:27:39
Nice that they kind forgotaboutit for a whole month. But they must've been busy figuring out Lampard's fine.