As a result of two pitch invasions during their Premier League win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on May 19, Everton has been fined £300,000.
After the win ensured their Premier League survival, fans rushed to the field at Goodison Park.
In the season’s second-to-last match, the home team overcame a 2-0 deficit to ensure its Premier League status.
After Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the game-winning goal in the 85th minute, the spectators ran onto the field to celebrate.
While walking to the away locker room after the game, Patrick Vieira, the manager of Palace, looked to get into a fight with an Everton fan.
When the former Arsenal great was crossing the Everton field, he was met by a teasing home fan and was infuriated so much that the Crystal Palace coach had to lay his hands on the fans. He knocked the fan to the pitch and the coach was almost lynched before some security operatives at the stadium intervened.
Patrick Vieira responded to the question of whether or not he was taken aback by the amount of the fine, he said: “Not at all shocked, no.
“This is a nuanced situation that requires careful consideration so that the optimal choice can be made.
“I think we all need to accept the ultimate sanction if they think it’s the best option.”
Police from Merseyside talked with both Vieira and the fan, but like the FA, they did not take any action in response to the incident.
The FA claimed that invading fans engaged in “threatening and violent behavior.”
Earlier this month, Premier League clubs stated that they would ban fans for at least a year from attending games at their stadiums if they were found guilty of anti-social or criminal behavior at top-flight facilities.
Reports from the Home Office show that after limitations on Covid-19 were lifted, crowd sizes increased, leading to the worst unrest in England and Wales in eight years.
The FA released a statement which read: “Two violations of FA Rule E20 happened in the 84th minute of Everton FC’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace FC on Thursday, 19 May 2022, and after the final whistle, leading to a fine of £300,000.”
Numerous clubs in the Premier League have been hit with hefty fines so far this season.
After a heated 2-2 tie at Stamford Bridge during the 2022-2023 season, Chelsea and Tottenham were hit with a hefty punishment.
Both the Blues (£375,000) and the Spurs (£225,000) admitted guilty on three charges of player misconduct for which they were fined.
QPR, Manchester City, and West Ham have had to pay hefty fines for serious off-field infractions, including breaking Financial Fair Play guidelines and UEFA regulations and making questionable transfer transactions.
Meanwhile, Southampton will face Everton on Saturday, hoping to avoid a third consecutive Premier League loss.
The Toffees are coming into this game on the heels of their first win of the season, a 3-0 shutout of West Ham United.
