Sam Stone

Sun 15 January 2023 13:40, UK

Tony Bellew has slammed the behaviour of Everton fans after Anthony Gordon was harassed whilst trying to leave Goodison Park after the defeat to Southampton.

Frank Lampard’s side’s defeat to the Saints was a new low point and leaves Everton only off the bottom of the table of goal difference.

Evertonians made their feelings heard after the match and tried to stop players from leaving the ground long after the final whistle.

Gordon was filmed being hounded by a group whilst trying to leave Goodison Park in his car and Bellew has condemned the actions of the individuals responsible for the incident.

“This is not right! Think about what this is portraying us as,” wrote Bellew (via Twitter, 15 January).

“He’s a kid trying to home after playing for his club! I get we are all frustrated and had enough but this is not the right way! Who is gone wanna come and fight or play for us after seeing this? It’s a mess.”

Shocking

We all know that football is far more than just a ‘game’ and that it means a great deal to a lot of people. However, there’s a right and a wrong way of making your feelings heard. Unfortunately, chasing a player when he is just trying to get home to his family is a terrible way of going about things.

After yesterday’s incidents, the rest of the Premier League will look at Everton as a laughing stock. Everton’s board members were asked to stay away from the ground and Denise Barrett-Baxendale and Bill Kenwright have both been subject to alleged incidents in recent weeks.

At no point should anyone related to the club not be able to attend a fixture due to safety concerns. Everyone associated with Everton needs to take a look in the mirror.

The board have made some awful decisions in recent years and they do have to shoulder most of the blame. Lampard has made some daft calls in the dug out and now some of the fans have also made fools of themselves.

Saturday (14 January) will go down as a bad day for the club and hopefully a turning point.