Arsenal great Gilberto fears someone could die after what he saw Everton fans do
Gilberto Silva has admitted he has begun to fear for footballer’s safety after what he saw Everton supporters do in August.
A section of Toffees fans were spotted shouting abuse towards Sean Dyche’s side at a train station following the Blues’ disappointing 4-0 defeat to Tottenham in their second Premier League game of the season.
While former Blue Neal Maupay was slammed by some pundits for his reaction to the fans, former Arsenal star Silva has revealed he is concerned someone may die if this continues.
As quoted by the Mirror on Monday (2 September) he said: “You don’t train all the week to go to the game with the intention to lose the game.
“Of course, you know, sometimes you, as a player, you make mistakes. Sometimes things don’t go as you planned. But it doesn’t mean that some people, frustrated by the results, have the right to go on to players and have this kind of behaviour.
“Because imagine themselves in a different way. If they had made a mistake in their company, in the work they do, somebody would have the same behaviour towards them.
“Maybe one day, if they face this situation, they will understand that the players who play for their clubs, they abuse, have the same feeling as them.
“What if somebody dies in this case? Why they don’t have some more diligence regarding the situation? The players don’t know, but the players would never go to find this type of person, trying to abuse them, trying to have revenge.
“But I think the players, they should stand up – but not only the players. The clubs should stand up on the side of the players, the federations, all the federations, the confederations around the world, and authorities because this is not normal.”
What happened to the Everton players after loss v Tottenham in the Premier League?
While even the most optimistic of Everton fans will have been left disappointed by the Toffees’ miserable start to the Premier League season, there is a way in which to voice your frustrations without crossing a line.
Nobody deserves to be shouted at and abused at a train station or over social media. Although fans have every right to be irritated, the actions of a couple of fans a few weeks ago will have done very little to benefit Dyche’s side.
Hopefully, those sorts of scenes don’t become commonplace in and around Goodison Park this season. It would certainly help the mood of everyone involved in the club if results begin to pick up after the international break, however.
No one doubts the fact that this group of players is trying their best, but so far that has been nowhere near good enough. The Pressure on the squad and the manager is only going to increase until something shifts on the pitch.
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