Julius OkorieAs Everton put finishing touches to training ahead of their last match at Goodison Park on Sunday, the club has come hard on a fan who attempted to remove stadium seat.
The unnamed fan has been banned from attending Sunday’s game described as Goodison Park farewell show.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe man, who “smuggled tools into the stadium”, was captured on CCTV after the 2-2 home draw against Ipswich at the start of May and will now miss Sunday’s visit of Southampton.
It will be the men’s team’s final Premier League game at the famous old ground ahead of moving to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
Everton say Merseyside Police are speaking to the individual, who has had the season ticket suspended.
Any further sanction will be determined following the outcome of the police investigation, the club adds.
Everton warn any attempts to unlawfully remove stadium property could result in the permanent loss of season tickets and future memberships.
The latest development is coming just months after another Everton fan was banned for life from the new Stadium even before its official opening for stealing and unacceptable conduct. At a test event at the new stadium in February, the said fan
filmed himself ordering food and drink from the refreshment facilities before leaving without paying, and bragging about it on camera, describing himself as the “first man to officially do a Toby (slang for theft) at Bramley-Moore Dock!’
READ ALSO;How Everton Fan Bagged Life Ban From New Stadium
In another development, former owner of the club Farhad Moshiri has revealed that he invested £400m into the club’s new stadium and hopes it can help “bridge the gap” to the elite.
The Toffees will play their final competitive game at Goodison Park on Sunday before moving into their new arena at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
Moshiri’s eight-year tenure, which ended when he sold his holding to the Friedkin Group last year, was blighted by a number of controversies but the construction of the new stadium was one positive legacy.
The British-Iranian businessman told Sky Sports News: “We were all in love with Goodison. I was in love with Goodison. Nobody wanted to move.“But the reason we had to leave was partly infrastructural, partly financial. “I had to put in £400m. The rest had to come from other investors.”
The new stadium cost around £750m and has a capacity of 52,888. It has already held its first two test events, at reduced capacities, with a third to take place over the summer.
Moshiri believes the stadium could make a big difference as the club aims to improve both off and on the pitch.
He said: “The fact we have the Friedkin Group, really good custodians in a new stadium – I think this is our best chance to bridge the gap. “Our fans have suffered far too long.”
Moshiri’s reign was marked by financial problems, on-field struggles and a high turnover of managers.
He said: “My biggest sadness is not to have attended more games. I wish I’d been able to but I was constrained by my work. I have no regrets.”
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
