Everton fined by Uefa after fan hit Lyon goalkeeper during Europa League match
Everton acted swiftly and banned the supporter in question, who appeared to be carrying a child at the time, before Uefa on Wednesday handed down the €30,000 fine
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Your support makes all the difference.Everton have been fined €30,000 after a fan appeared to hit Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes in last month's Europa League clash at Goodison Park.
A rash challenge by Toffees defender Ashley Williams on Lopes led to a melee between both sets of players that spilled towards the Howard Kendall Gwladys Street End stand, where fans were within touching distance of the brawl.
A number of players from both sides were pressed up against advertising hoardings, putting them in reach of the home fans, and television footage showed one man carrying a young child trying to reach the players while shouting aggressively towards them.
The man then appeared to lash out at Lucas Tousart’s face, before retreating as the Lyon players reacted.
The melee even involved Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who ran from one end of the pitch to the other to get involved, but despite the unsavoury scenes only Williams and Lyon match-winner Bertrand Traore were the only ones to be shown yellow cards.
Everton acted swiftly and banned the supporter in question before Uefa on Wednesday handed down the fine. Merseyside Police launched an investigation and interviewed a 30-year-old man on suspicion of assault and affray before he was released under investigation.
Then manager Ronald Koeman refused to blame his players for the incident instead choosing to focus his attention on the performance of the referee.
“I think the irritation grows in the game for our players and in my opinion that was the problem by the referee,” he argued. “The referee was Dutch but he didn't do anything against the theatre of some of the Lyon players. (Nabil) Fekir in the first half dived 10 times.
“I understand with my players, that comes out of frustration.”
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