Everton condemn threats to Tarkowski
Everton have condemned threats made to James Tarkowski and his family.
Tarkowski’s wife Samantha revealed that they had been subjected to ‘beyond disgusting’ online abuse in the aftermath of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.
The Blues’ defender was booked for a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister but referee body PGMOL admitted it should have been upgraded to a red card.
Goodison Park chiefs confirmed on Friday they are liaising with Tarkowski and his family over the backlash aimed at them following Liverpool’s 1-0 victory.
“Everton Football Club is aware of threats made towards James Tarkowski and his family on social media,” read a club statement.
“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.”
David Moyes echoed Everton’s stance when the subject was broached in his press conference to preview this weekend’s visit of a title-chasing Arsenal
He said: “It’s not acceptable for anybody in any walk of life.
“We have to hold our hands up after looking at it again – it could have been a sending-off.
“But I don’t think that means you get abused online because of it.
“It’s part of football and he made what looked at the time a really good tackle but looking at it again, it was a bit reckless.”
PGMOL make James Tarkowski admission
Refereeing body PGMOL has accepted James Tarkowski should have been sent off in Everton’s Merseyside derby defeat.
Tarkowski was booked in the 11th minute of Wednesday’s Anfield encounter for a flying challenge on Alexis Mac Allister after initially winning the ball.
Referee Sam Barrott sanctioned The Blues’ stand-in captain with a yellow card and avoided further punishment when the incident was sent to VAR.
The Premier League’s Match Centre confirmed the decision to only caution Tarkowski was as a result of his follow through on the Reds’ midfielder.
But the PGMOL have now conceded that the 32-year-old should have seen the card upgraded to a dismissal due to the nature of the foul on Mac Allister.
Tarkowski cannot face any retrospective disciplinary action over the incident as a result of his initial booking and VAR Paul Tierney’s subsequent review.
David Moyes admitted post-match that his side were ‘lucky’ not to be reduced to 10 men in the opening stages of their eventual 1-0 defeat due to the tackle.
Moyes hopeful over Mykolenko derby return
David Moyes remains hopeful that Vitalii Mykolenko can return for Everton’s Merseyside derby clash.
Mykolenko suffered an injury during Ukraine’s Nations League encounter with Belgium which his national coach Serhiy Rebrov feared would be ‘serious’.
However Moyes revealed on the eve of the Blues’ 246th meeting with Liverpool that the left-back is already back in training as he aims to make the Anfield encounter.
“He’s got a bit of an injury but he’s back and trained yesterday,” said Moyes.
“We’re hopeful he’s going to be okay but we’ll have to see tomorrow how he is.”
The Everton manager also revealed that Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are all making tentative steps towards their own injury comebacks.
He added: “Both of them are coming on great. Illi is a little bit further on than Dwight at the moment but it is great that they are back in training.
“It’s helped us a little bit with having Dom out as well.
“Dom is the only one who is really behind it at the moment. We are just waiting on him coming back, but the rest are all getting much closer to fitness.”
