Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters has warned fans that the recent swathes of fan disorder will have ‘consequences’.
The top-flight chief has urged fans to think twice before entering the pitch or setting off pyrotechnics, admitting that the welcoming back of fans following the pandemic did lead to a deterioration in behaviour.
The warning came shortly after a small group of Everton fans ran onto the pitch following Friday’s ‘match for peace’ against Dynamo Kyiv. The actions of that group were met with dismay from most at Goodison Park and forced the club to release a statement explaining their ‘zero-tolerance approach to pitch encroachment’.
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“It was brilliant to welcome fans back properly last year and embrace them across the season,” Masters told Sky Sports. “I did witness a deterioration in fan behaviour from before the ‘break’ (pandemic) and we’re trying to take action.
“We’re trying to communicate to fans and tell them that letting off smoke bombs or marine flares, invading the pitch is dangerous and has consequences. I’m not saying it will stop, but hopefully over time we can push it back and eradicate it in the long-term.
“But it will have consequences for people. They will be banned from watching Premier League football matches and may incur a criminal record.”
Many of Everton’s home games during the run-in saw impassioned pre-match scenes around Goodison as thousands of fans welcomed the team bus with blue smoke and Toffees flags. However, some of the pyrotechnics made their way into the ground and were set off during the game and thrown onto the pitch.
The actions of said small minority have mostly been met with derision among Evertonians, and the fines received last season for fan disorder could be repeated if the same were to happen again.
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