A supporter has been banned from attending Everton’s final Premier League match at Goodison Park after allegedly smuggling tools into the stadium and attempting to remove their seat.
The club state the individual brought tools into the 133-year-old ground for the top-flight fixture against Ipswich Town on May 3 — the penultimate Premier League game at the stadium. While they were unable to remove their seat, they caused what Everton described as “significant damage” to the surrounding seating area.
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Their season ticket has been suspended and they will be unable to attend Sunday’s game against Southampton. Merseyside Police confirmed they had spoken to a 65-year-old man regarding the incident, and Everton said the individual could face further sanctions depending on the outcome of the police investigation.
An Everton statement read: “We can confirm that Merseyside Police are speaking to an individual who smuggled tools into the stadium at the home fixture with Ipswich Town and attempted to remove their seat.
“While the attempt was unsuccessful, it caused significant damage to the surrounding seating area. This has since been made safe by the facilities team.
“After reviewing video evidence, the individual’s season ticket has been suspended with immediate effect and they will not be attending Sunday’s final home match of the 2024-25 season against Southampton. Any further sanction will be determined following the outcome of the police investigation.”
A Merseyside Police statement read: “We can confirm we are aware of the incident and have already spoken to a 65-year-old man from Hertfordshire. We are making arrangements for him to attend a voluntary interview and we continue to work with Everton Football Club as part of our enquiries.”
Everton’s men’s side are moving from Goodison Park to their new 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Goodison Park has been the club’s home since 1892.
Everton confirmed on Tuesday that the club would be keeping Goodison Park and plan to use it as the new home for the women’s team.
The club warned ahead of the final Premier League game at Goodison that “any attempt to damage or unlawfully remove stadium property — whether seats, signage, artefacts or fixtures — will be treated with the utmost seriousness”.
In April, Everton handed out an indefinite ban to a 62-year-old man following a video which appeared to show him not paying for food during the first test event at the club’s new stadium.
(Michael Regan, Getty Images)
