In response to Rafael Benitez's dig at Evertonians away support being nasty to his Liverpool team, Everton have issued a statement highlighting Benitez's ignorance towards the actions of his own Liverpool fans, the worst fans in Europe according to UEFA.
Ian Ross, Everton's Head of PR said: "Whilst we would never condone the singling out of individual players for vitriolic insults, it is a shame that Mr Benitez chose to ignore the actions of his own club's supporters.
"Not only was Joleon Lescott subjected to an afternoon-long barrage of quite disgusting and quite audible abuse, Phil Neville was seemingly spat at several times and was also punched in the back by a supporter as he took a throw-in.
"We have asked Merseyside Police and our Safety Officer to look into the matter.
"In calling for Everton supporters to respect his players, Mr Benitez should, perhaps, remember his comments of 12 months ago when he sought to belittle one of world sport's oldest and most respected institutions by describing us as a 'small club'. Respect is a two-way street."
Its no rarity for Liverpool fans to be at the centre of controversy. In February 2006, their fans were lambasted for attacking an ambulance which had come to collect the injured Alan Smith, just a month later, Liverpool admitted their fans had thrown human excrement at Manchester United fans during an FA Cup tie at Anfield.
Ian Ross, Everton's Head of PR said: "Whilst we would never condone the singling out of individual players for vitriolic insults, it is a shame that Mr Benitez chose to ignore the actions of his own club's supporters.
"Not only was Joleon Lescott subjected to an afternoon-long barrage of quite disgusting and quite audible abuse, Phil Neville was seemingly spat at several times and was also punched in the back by a supporter as he took a throw-in.
"We have asked Merseyside Police and our Safety Officer to look into the matter.
"In calling for Everton supporters to respect his players, Mr Benitez should, perhaps, remember his comments of 12 months ago when he sought to belittle one of world sport's oldest and most respected institutions by describing us as a 'small club'. Respect is a two-way street."
Its no rarity for Liverpool fans to be at the centre of controversy. In February 2006, their fans were lambasted for attacking an ambulance which had come to collect the injured Alan Smith, just a month later, Liverpool admitted their fans had thrown human excrement at Manchester United fans during an FA Cup tie at Anfield.
