Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale was 'put in a headlock' as she left the Goodison Park directors' box, club sources claim.
Another incident reportedly saw her car surrounded and spat at, while chairman Bill Kenwright is said to have received death threats. This is understood to be part of the backdrop to the safety advice warning the pair, and the rest of the club board, not to attend the club's crucial tie with Southampton on Saturday.
That advice was detailed in a statement released by the club just hours before the game, following which a peaceful protest against the running of the club was due to be held. Organisers had called for the demonstration to be respectful and immediately condemned any threats made towards club staff or directors.
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A club spokesperson described the situation as a "profoundly sad day" for Everton after it was announced the board had been urged to stay away from the ground due to a “real and credible threat to their safety and security”. Mr Kenwright, Prof Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp have "reluctantly accepted the outcome of the safety assessment", it was added.
Within the statement, the club made reference to malicious communications and "increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour – including targeted physical aggression - at recent home matches". Everton sources claim they have included the incidents focused on Prof Barrett-Baxendale, threats towards Mr Kenwright and the throwing of a crowd barrier into a glass door following the defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.
The warning comes amid discontent from sections of the fanbase over how the club is being run as Everton look set for a second consecutive relegation battle. A 'sit-in' protest following the final whistle had been organised ahead of the game as part of a campaign that has drawn the concerns of a significant number of supporter organisations and fan groups.
The NSNO_W campaign has repeatedly stressed the protest would be a peaceful one and issued a statement on Friday in which it called on the 'sit-in' to be free from abuse, anti-social behaviour and respectful. Organisers tweeted in response to the club statement: "Everyone involved in our campaign and indeed every reasonable Evertonian utterly and completely condemn any threats to any Everton employee and/or officials and directors of the club."
In response to the concerns of supporters, Everton's Fan Advisory Board had organised a series of online and face-to-face meetings designed to collate the views of fans. A face-to-face meeting scheduled to take place on Sunday was cancelled on Friday, with the board explaining: "Unfortunately we’ve had to cancel Sunday’s face to face meeting for security and safety reasons. We’ll be in touch with all who have pre-registered to ensure they still have the opportunity to share their views."
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