13 hours Ago
Everton have said that they are ready to help the police with “any potential investigation” regarding death threats sent to defender James Tarkowski. On Thursday, Tarkowski’s wife Samantha said on Instagram that their family had received “vile comments,” including threats of physical violence following his foul on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister during the Merseyside Derby on Wednesday. Advertisement A statement from Everton on Friday read: “Everton Football Club is aware of threats made towards James Tarkowski and his family on social media.
Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and has no place in football or society. “The club is liaising with James and his wife Samantha and stands ready to engage with the social media companies and assist the police with any potential investigation. “Everton strongly condemns any form of online or offline intimidation, threats or abuse directed at players, staff or their families.
” Tarkowski, 32, was only shown a yellow card in the 11th minute of the Merseyside derby at Anfield when a follow-through saw the defender’s studs hit Mac Allister just below the knee. Professional Match Game Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body that oversees Premier League officiating, accepted on Thursday that the two-time England international should have been sent off for the challenge , acknowledging that the wrong call was made by both referee Sam Barrott and VAR Paul Tierney. Tarkowski, who was captaining Everton, told Optus Sport after the game: “I spoke to him (Mac Allister), and I apologised because it’s not a great tackle.
“When the ball fell between us, I thought he was just going to come and I was expecting a big, old-school 50-50 tackle but he just pulled out the tackle and as I lunged in, I followed through and caught him pretty high so I’ve apologised to him and he’s accepted it.” Samantha Tarkowski posted on Instagram: “The level of abuse my husband is receiving — wishing death on him, vile comments about me, about us as a couple, and about him as a person — is beyond disgusting. “People forget that he is more than just a footballer.
He is a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, and most importantly, the father of our two children. Advertisement “He goes out there and does his job and does it very f****** well, yet he’s subjected to so much hate. For those acting like he deliberately set out to hurt someone.
Are you serious? “Football moves at speed, and tackles are split-second decisions. No player goes out there to injure someone and do you think any player would feel good about it if they did? But the pure s*** messages, the threats? That’s intentional. That’s on you.
“Football is a sport, but the way some so-called ‘fans’ behave is disgraceful. The abuse, the threats – it’s not passion, it’s pathetic. We’re real people, and this goes far beyond football.
” The Athletic have contacted the Merseyside Police for comment. Everton are next in action against Arsenal at Goodison Park on Saturday. (Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport/CameraSport via Getty Images).
