Everton’s chief executive officer Denise Barrett-Baxendale was put in a headlock by a fan after a recent home game.
The Everton board will not attend their game against Southampton on Saturday due to a threat to their safety.
The decision comes, according to an Everton source who was asked not to be named for their safety, after Barrett-Baxendale was also subjected to sexually aggressive comments and emails said they hoped her and her son would get cancer. Her car was also surrounded after a recent game, with fans hammering on the side.
Chairman Bill Kenwright was also told he would not leave Liverpool alive in emails.
A crash barrier was also thrown through the glass at Goodison Park after a game.
This is the first time Everton’s entire board, who will watch the match together remotely, have been told not to attend a game in the club’s history.
An Everton statement read: “Chairman Bill Kenwright, CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp have reluctantly accepted the outcome of the safety assessment carried out by security advisors.
“The board members received the instruction following malicious and unacceptably threatening correspondence received by the club and increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour — including targeted physical aggression — at recent home matches.”
An Everton security and safety advisor said: “Following a thorough risk assessment, and in response to tangible threats received by the club and intelligence we have gathered, the club’s board members have been told they must not attend today’s fixture.”
A club spokesperson added: “This is an unprecedented decision for Everton Football Club – never before has our entire board of directors been ordered not to attend a match on safety grounds. It is a profoundly sad day for Everton and Evertonians.”
Fans have planned a post-match sit-in protest due to Everton’s situation. They are 18th in the Premier League and have not won a competitive game since October 22.
The group behind the protest condemned the abuse directed at the board, writing: “Everyone involved in our campaign and indeed every reasonable Evertonian utterly and completely condemn any threats to any Everton employee and/or officials & directors of the club.”
Video on social media showed fireworks being set off outside of Southampton’s hotel in the early hours of Saturday morning.
(Photo: Getty Images)