Merseyside Police have issued a statement in relation to alleged threats towards Everton directors ahead of their Premier League fixture against Southampton on Saturday.
The statement 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.
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“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 after the match.
“At this stage no offences have been reported.”
Everton’s statement, released just after midday on Saturday, said: “Everton’s Board of Directors have been instructed not to attend today’s Premier League fixture against Southampton because of a ‘real and credible threat to their safety and security’.
“Chairman Bill Kenwright, CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Chief Finance and Strategy Officer Grant Ingles and Non-Executive Director Graeme Sharp have reluctantly accepted the outcome of the safety assessment carried out by security advisors.
“The board members received the instruction following malicious and unacceptably threatening correspondence received by the club and increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour – including targeted physical aggression – at recent home matches.”
Club sources would later claim that Prof Barrett-Baxendale was 'put in a headlock' as she left the Goodison Park directors' box, meanwhile another incident reportedly saw her car surrounded and spat at, while chairman Bill Kenwright is said to have received death threats.
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