A man tied himself by the neck to the goal at a Premier League clash tonight (Thursday) in protest at the climate crisis. The protestor stopped the Everton and Newcastle United game for around seven minutes.
The man, wearing an orange T-shirt bearing the words 'Just Stop Oil' - and a website URL - attached himself to the Everton goal at the Gwladys Street End during the game at Goodison Park. It happened at just before 9pm, shortly after the second half started.
Stewards soon rushed to the scene to try and free him, when it became apparent he had attached himself with what appeared to be cable ties. Ground staff brought out bolt cutters to try to free him.
When the man, who was wearing glasses and had long brown hair, was freed, police attempted to escort him from the scene. However, he resisted, and ended up being largely carried off the pitch.
Some fans booed and threw missiles at the departing group. The incident - along with a red card late in the second half for Everton's Allan - led to 14 minutes being added to the clock for the game.
Just Stop Oil tweeted about the incident, saying: "This evening, Louis, a 21 year-old supporter of Just Stop Oil, locked on to the goalpost at Goodison Park wearing a Just Stop Oil t-shirt, causing the referee to briefly stop play.
"When explaining why he has chosen this action, Louis said: “It's 2022 and it's time to look up, time to step up and not stand by. It's time to act like it's an emergency. Report after report is telling me that my future is going to be dire, and my government is telling me not to worry and pay into a pension.
“But we have a choice. We can choose to highlight that our climate is breaking down, we can choose to resist this government that is betraying us, we can choose to step up and not stand by.
"Our government is betraying us by funding new oil fields in the North Sea. New oil means destruction of our children’s future. It means war on small island states. And it means suffering now for the poorest and most marginalised in all regions.
"We must #JustStopOil. It’s a no-brainer."
