Everton Football Club has strongly denounced death threats and abusive messages sent to defender James Tarkowski and his family in the aftermath of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield.
The threats emerged on social media following Tarkowski’s late tackle on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, an incident that has sparked widespread discussion.
Tarkowski received a yellow card for the challenge, but the Premier League’s refereeing body later stated he should have been shown a red card for serious foul play.
In response, Everton released a statement condemning the threats as “completely unacceptable,” pledging their support to Tarkowski and his family while liaising with social media platforms and law enforcement for a potential investigation.
“The abuse, both online and offline, directed at players, staff, or their families has no place in football or society,” the club said. Tarkowski’s wife, Samantha, also spoke out, calling the comments “beyond disgusting” and urging fans to remember the humanity behind the game.
“People forget he is more than just a footballer. He is a husband, a father, and a friend. The threats and abuse go far beyond football. It’s not passion—it’s pathetic,” she wrote on Instagram.
Following the match, Tarkowski apologized directly to Mac Allister for the tackle, which caught the Liverpool midfielder high on the leg.
The Argentina international accepted his apology, and Tarkowski described the incident as unintentional: “It wasn’t a great tackle. I expected a big 50-50, but he pulled out, and I followed through higher than intended. I’ve apologized, and he accepted it.”
While referee Sam Barrott deemed the tackle reckless but not a sending-off offense in real time, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) later revealed the incident met the threshold for serious foul play.
Referee Barrott and VAR official Paul Tierney were criticized for not recommending an on-field review to overturn the original decision.
Everton manager David Moyes acknowledged the tackle could have warranted a red card but emphasized that this does not justify the abuse Tarkowski has received. “It’s not acceptable for anyone in any walk of life,” Moyes said in a press conference on Friday.
