Everton FC have said the club “strongly condemns” death threats made towards defender James Tarkowski after his controversial foul during Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.
Tarkowski was booked for a late challenge on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, but Reds manager Arne Slot and many of the club’s fans felt he deserved to be sent off.
The Premier League’s refereeing body later agreed that the English defender should have been given a red card for the tackle.
Since the challenge, the 32-year-old has been subjected to abuse on social media, with his wife Samantha writing in an Instagram story that this has included death threats.
She wrote: “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 son, a brother, a friend, and most importantly, the father of our two children.”
Ms Tarkowski also said her husband didn’t “deliberately set out to hurt someone” and added: “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.”
Read more from Sky News:
Last UK blast furnaces days from closure
Mother spared prison over death of son
‘Vile’ police inspector caught in child sex sting
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
In a statement on Friday, Everton said it is “aware of threats made towards James Tarkowski and his family on social media”.
The club added: “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.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Meanwhile, Everton manager David Moyes said in a news conference on Friday that “everyone should be absolutely condemning” the online abuse directed at Tarkowski.
He said: “We have to hold our hands up and, after looking at it again, I believe it could have been a sending-off, but I don’t think that means that you get abused online because of that.”
