Everton’s board have been instructed to not attend Saturday’s residence sport in opposition to Southampton as a consequence of a “actual and credible risk to their security and safety”, the Premier League facet mentioned.
The choice got here forward of experiences of a potential protest at Goodison Park following Everton’s poor type this season.
“Board members obtained the directions following malicious and unacceptably threatening mail obtained by the membership and rising incidents of anti-social conduct – together with focused bodily aggression – at latest residence matches,” the membership mentioned in a press release.
Everton are third from backside of the desk and three factors forward of bottom-placed Southampton going into Saturday’s sport.
Chairman Invoice Kenwright, CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Chief Finance and Technique Officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp have been suggested to not attend the match, the membership mentioned.
Everton’s assertion included a quote from a safety adviser: “Following a radical danger evaluation and in response to tangible threats obtained by the membership and knowledge we have now gathered, members of the membership’s board have been instructed that he does not must take part in at the moment’s match”. Everton have didn’t win any of their final eight matches in all competitions and misplaced Four-1 at residence to Brighton of their final residence sport.
“That is an unprecedented determination for Everton Soccer Membership – by no means earlier than has our complete board been ordered to not attend a match for security causes. It’s a deeply unhappy day for Everton and Evertonians,” the membership mentioned.