Blues issue Rafa response

Toffee's respond to Benitez criticism

By Daniel Gregory 01/04/08

Everton Football Club have issued an official response to the comments made by

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez after a hotly contested Merseyside derby at the weekend.

Benitez followed up his 'small club' comments from last season with claims that Everton supporters showed a lack of respect for his players.

Ian Ross, head of PR and communications at Goodison Park 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."

Abusive chants were heard from both sets of supporters, and players such as Phil Neville, Joleon Lescott and Steven Gerrard were handed out particular punishment. It was also reported that Phil Neville was spat on and punched by sections of the Liverpool fans while taking a throw in during the second half of the dissapointing derby defeat.