Merseyside Police have not received any reports of threats towards Everton directors
Merseyside Police have revealed they have not received reports of any alleged threats towards the Everton board of directors after they were told to stay away from the game against Southampton.
It’s been yet another season of turmoil and disappointment for the Toffees faithful again languishing in the relegation zone after just one win from their last 13 games. And fans have undergone protests to voice their frustrations at the club board and leadership.
Chairman, Bill Kenwright, chief executive, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance officer, Grant Ingles, and non-executive director Graeme Sharp were told by the club’s security advisors not to attend the 2-1 defeat by Southampton because of what the club described as “a real and credible threat to their safety and security”.
The police have indeed confirmed that they are liaising with the football club over the alleged threats and that none were reported to them before the club announced, to much surprise, that the directors would not be in attendance on Saturday.
A statement by the police [via The Guardian, 16 January] read: “We can confirm that Merseyside police is liaising with Everton Football Club following alleged threats towards directors ahead of the Premier League fixture against Southampton on Saturday 14 January.
“No threats or incidents were reported to police prior to the game, but we are in communication with the club to establish if any offences have taken place, and to ensure that any future reports are received through existing channels. Any threats reported to Merseyside Police would be assessed and investigated as a matter of course, and any appropriate safety measures implemented.
“We are also aware of videos in circulation of fans approaching players’ cars as they made their way from Goodison Park after the match. At this stage no offences have been reported.”
Gone too far
The Everton fans are certainly right to voice their frustrations and discontent at the Toffees board, after yet another season of disappointment and underperformance on the pitch, as well as the incompetence of those amongst the club board.
The club have been in a sorry state for a number of years now, and there is a desperate need for much change and transformation within those at the top of the club hierarchy.
However, reports surfacing that the board had been told to stay away from the ground because of the concern of alleged threats to their safety shows that some of these protests have certainly gone too far. Also, some of the images and videos posted on social media regarding the players’ struggling to get out of stadiums and being attacked in their cars really aren’t a pleasing thing to see.
Yes, the board have failed in the activities within the club and to continue the traditions of a club so rich in history and standing in the English game, but no individual, what their position, should have their lives threatened as a result.
It is incredibly vital that the club remain in constant communication with the police and authorities to avoid any potential and unfortunate disasters in the future.