The protestor tied himself to the posts at Goodison Park
Play was stopped during Everton’s game against Newcastle United on Thursday after an environmental activist tied himself to the post at Goodison Park.
The incident happened five minutes after the start of the second half as the protestor ran onto the pitch before tying himself to the post.
Close-up footage showed the protestor to have even wrapped wire around his neck to ensure he was tied to the post.
After initially trying to use scissors to cut the protestor out of the wire, a member of staff entered the pitch with a set of bolt cutters in order to try and fix the protestor free.
Following a lengthy delay in order to get the protestor free from the goal, the unnamed activist then refused to leave the pitch before eventually being carried away by several members of staff.
As the activist was carried away another fan from inside the stands behind the goal tried to attack the protestor, however he was held back and also escorted away from the pitch.
Following the removal of the activist, a group known as ‘Just Stop Oil’ took responsibility for the actions and posted a series of messages on Twitter from the protestor, who was names as Louis.
They said: “This evening, Louis, a 21 year-old supporter of Just Stop Oil, locked on to the goalpost at Goodison Park wearing a Just Stop Oil t-shirt, causing the referee to briefly stop play. When explaining why he has chosen this action, Louis said:
This evening, Louis, a 21 year-old supporter of Just Stop Oil, locked on to the goalpost at Goodison Park wearing a Just Stop Oil t-shirt, causing the referee to briefly stop play.
When explaining why he has chosen this action, Louis said: pic.twitter.com/XqjaYFIDyz
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) March 17, 2022
“It’s 2022 and it’s time to look up, time to step up and not stand by. It’s time to act like it’s an emergency.” “Report after report is telling me that my future is going to be dire, and my government is telling me not to worry and pay into a pension.
“But we have a choice. We can choose to highlight that our climate is breaking down, we can choose to resist this government that is betraying us, we can choose to step up and not stand by.”
It was the second time in as many days an incident like this had occurred after play was briefly stopped during Arsenal’s game against Liverpool on Wednesday.
However unlike the activist at Goodison, the protestor was not as successful in handcuffing himself to the posts at the Emirates Stadium and was dragged away without play being interfered.
Related links:
- Environmental activist tries to handcuff himself to goal during Arsenal vs Liverpool clash
- Jordi Alba hit with missiles by fans during Galatasaray-Barcelona
- Real Madrid and Barcelona to wear special kits during El Clasico fixture
