Everton release statement on supporters' matchday conduct
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.
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)
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 06/01/2023 at 14:43:38
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.
3 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:05:01
4 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:13:50
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!
5 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:26:50
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.
6 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:43:59
7 Posted 06/01/2023 at 15:48:31
Kenwright's Empire stikes back.
8 Posted 06/01/2023 at 16:10:14
9 Posted 06/01/2023 at 16:16:35
10 Posted 06/01/2023 at 16:25:41
11 Posted 06/01/2023 at 18:42:59
As for the pitch invasions. They're ridiculous too. I'd have no problem if Viera had chinned that idiot.
12 Posted 06/01/2023 at 18:45:03
13 Posted 06/01/2023 at 18:49:43
14 Posted 06/01/2023 at 18:54:28
15 Posted 06/01/2023 at 19:08:41
There's nothing contentious in what I said, the guy was a prick and would have deserved a kicking.
16 Posted 06/01/2023 at 19:13:43
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.
17 Posted 06/01/2023 at 19:17:34
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.
How to get rid of these ads and support TW
1 Posted 06/01/2023 at 12:25:20
They have just released a statement about crowd behaviour on matchdays, which is both incredible, and also a warning.
Whilst Rome burns.