Everton have left warnings to fans on the seats of Hill Dickinson Stadium about swearing and abusive language.
A number of fans attending the 2-0 victory over Fulham last week were surprised to find a yellow note on their seat warning them there had been ‘persistent foul and abusive language in this area’.
The note, signed by the Everton security team , includes an email address for fans to report anybody who is using ‘foul and abusive language’ and suggests there have been complaints. Strangely, the notes appear to have the words Goodison Park crossed out so that they can be used in the new stadium.
Fans in the all four stands of the stadium claimed to have been left a note on their seat but it is unclear if they have been placed there because of swearing or something more serious.
A fan on the Everton Facebook group said: “You’ve probably been reported by someone nearby, i was talking to a steward asking about the cards (there were quite a few near me too) and they said theyd had reports from other fans from the Spurs game, the club checked cctv (which apparently is unbelievably clear) and put cards on the relevant seats as a friendly warning. Apparently people could lose their season tickets for repeated behaviour, which is utterly terrifying.”
While some fans who received the note were confused about what was classed as ‘foul and abusive language’, the club’s own ground regulations do suggest the club can remove season tickets from repeat offenders.
A clause in the regulations says: “The use of threatening, foul or abusive language or behaviour is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the Stadium. The Club may impose a ban for one or more matches and/or the removal of season ticket(s) and/or Club membership for any such behaviour.”
Other stickers left on seats referenced ‘discriminatory launguage in the area’, while others referred to the use of vapes and smoking devices in what seems to be a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the ground.
The club has more serious policies for what it classes as racist or homophobic abuse, with ground regulations stating any individual caught will be ejected from the stadium and will face prosecution, which suggests the yellow warnings are not for anything this serious.