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Everton classify their upcoming home match against Arsenal as ‘HIGH RISK’ as toxic situation at the club intensifies… days after club boards were advised not to attend their clash with Saints amid threats to their security.
- Everton fell 2-1 at home to Southampton on Saturday.
- Club board members were urged not to attend due to safety concerns.
- Their next home match against Arsenal has now been classified as ‘high risk’
- It comes after protests among fans and allegations of hateful correspondence.
Everton have taken the extraordinary step of classifying their upcoming home match against Arsenal as “high risk” as the toxic situation around the club intensifies.
Last Saturday’s game against Southampton, which ended in a hugely damaging 2-1 defeat, was placed in that category after the club received the indication that the safety of its board members was at risk.
It meant that chairman Bill Kenwright, chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Grant Ingles, the chief financial officer, and club legend Graeme Sharp were warned not to attend. The foursome have been the subject of protests, with fans urging owner Farhad Moshiri to ‘fire the board’.
Everton fans staged protests amid calls to ‘dismiss the board’ during their last home game
The club have now classed their next game against Arsenal as “high risk” amid fan discontent during their 2-1 loss to Southampton.
Everton want the board to be able to be present when the league leaders on February 4 and are working on security measures to ensure it can be a normal experience for them, but it is too early to say if they will be at the stadium for that. accessory.
The past 72 hours have been hugely damaging to the club’s reputation, with allegations that Barrett-Baxendale had been attacked by a male fan following a 4-1 defeat by Brighton on 3 January; she and Kenwright have received hateful mail in that period.
Everton are in talks with Merseyside Police, who issued a statement yesterday to say they have received no reports of incidents at Goodison Park, including after the Southampton game, when several players were confronted.
Board members were urged not to attend the game after concerns about their safety.
Anthony Gordon was surrounded by a group of young men and was called a “rat bitch” after the game.
Videos were uploaded to social media of Anthony Gordon surrounded by a group of youths and called a “shit rat” while Yerry Mina got out of his car in an attempt to placate another group but was yelled at by a hooligan holding a phone mobile in your face.
The force said in a statement: “Any threats reported to Merseyside Police would be routinely assessed and investigated, and appropriate security measures would be put in place.”
As a result, Everton are now looking to improve safety procedures and protocols for all players and staff following the incident. They continue to be in talks with Merseyside Police in a bid to protect the well-being of all employees.
They said in a statement: ‘The club will not make any comments relating to specific historical incidents. The club wants to thank the vast majority of fans who behaved impeccably before, during and after the game against Southampton.”