Everton Football Club has strongly condemned death threats made towards defender James Tarkowski and his family following his controversial challenge on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister during Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.
The tackle, which occurred in the 11th minute at Anfield, saw Tarkowski win the ball but catch Mac Allister high on the leg. Though he received a yellow card, the Premier League’s refereeing body, PGMOL, later admitted the incident met the threshold for a red card and said an on-field review should have been recommended by VAR.
In a statement, Everton said:
“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 social media companies and assist police investigations.”
Samantha Tarkowski voiced her anger on Instagram, describing the online abuse as “beyond disgusting.”
“People forget he is more than just a footballer… Football is a sport, but the way some so-called fans behave is disgraceful,” she said.
After the game, Tarkowski admitted the challenge was poor.
“I spoke to [Mac Allister] and apologised… I expected a 50-50 but he pulled out. As I lunged, I caught him high. He accepted my apology,” said the defender.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot acknowledged PGMOL’s admission, while Everton manager David Moyes condemned the online abuse, saying:
“It is not acceptable for anybody in any walk of life… It could have been a red, but that doesn’t justify threats.”
The incident highlights growing concerns about the abuse footballers face online, particularly in high-stakes rivalries.
