Patrick Vieira faced an FA investigation after a fan was kicked out on the night Everton celebrated the regaining of their Premier League status.
Footage emerged of the Crystal Palace manager, who appeared to be cursing a home supporter, who was part of a massive attack following the Toffees’ 3-2 comeback win.
When asked about the incident, Vieira said, “I have nothing to say about it.”
A fan involved posted a video of the incident on Twitter. It was put up on the social media platform by a fan with the username @frankie_efc and shows someone putting a middle finger on Vieira’s face, who then reacts.
Thousands of Jubilant Everton Supporters Who Saw Their Sides Safe Premier League Survival invaded the pitch after the match.
Patrick Vieira appears to be involved in an incident with a fan after their 3-2 loss to Everton
Fan footage shows a supporter making obscene gestures to Vieira’s face
A clearly enraged Vieira then turns to confront the supporter who got hit in his face on the pitch.
The owner of the Palace first patted the fan that was carrying him on the pitch
Vieira appeared to kick supporter before other Everton fans stepped in
Vieira, accompanied by staff or security, made his way across the pitch to the far dressing room, which is located at the Park & Car Park as a result of COVID protocols.
Footage from Sky Sports showed a fan shooing Vieira away with obscene gestures and an enraged Palace owner reacting by first kicking the man who approached him with his hand.
Vieira was pushed by another Everton fan before others could step in to ensure the 45-year-old could leave the pitch safely.
Speaking on Sky, pundit Dion Dublin criticized the conduct of fans and suggested that she did not blame Vieira for not responding.
‘We know how happy Everton fans are but you can’t do that. You can’t push managers and push players, touch players and scream in their faces,’ Dublin said.
‘We know it’s only one or two who have spoiled it for everyone else. Having fans on the pitch is not the way forward. We have to stop letting fans, or fans, on the pitch. it’s very dangerous.’
Vieira was targeted as he attempted to walk the pitch after his side’s loss
Everton manager Frank Lampard offered his support to Vieira after the incident.
“I feel for Patrick because I didn’t get to talk to him in the end because of how it all happened for us,” he said.
‘Of course, he’s running through a lot of our fans on an 80-yard pitch, so it’s not going to be easy. But there was no such problem that I was aware of.
‘If done the right way, I am happy for the fans to stay on the pitch and enjoy it. As long as everyone is behaving and we don’t see scenes like we did that night, give them their moment. It’s all about football. Are we going to handcuff them to their seats? As long as they behave, there is no problem.’
Everton manager Frank Lampard offered his support to Vieira after the match
It comes just 24 hours after Sheffield United’s Billy Sharpe was crushed to the head by a Nottingham Forest fan following an attack on the pitch.
Robert Biggs, 30, was jailed for 24 weeks on Thursday and banned from the stands for 10 years.
The Goodison Park incident happened the same night that Port Vale supporters who attacked the pitch were seen punching Swindon players after their League Two playoff semi-final win.
What was supposed to be a night for the club ended in humiliation when home fans invaded the pitch to celebrate their victory and then Crestfallen was seen throwing punches at Swindon players.
Sheffield United’s Billy Sharpe was beheaded by a pitch-invading Forest fan on Wednesday
Sky Sports cameras captured the moment Vale fans became embroiled in a brawl with opposition players on the pitch, throwing punches during a scuffle.
Jack Payne, Ben Gladwin and Jake O’Brien appear to be the three Swindon stars targeted by fans, before security soon intervenes to get them out of trouble.
The Vieira episode marred one of the great Goodison Park nights for Everton, who extended their 68-year top-flight stay with a dramatic victory.
Needing a victory to seal the defences, their fight for survival was going down until the final day, when they overtook Palace at half-time via goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordin Ayew.
Thousands of fans invade the pitch after Everton secures its existence in the Premier League
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the winning goal on a memorable night at Goodison Park
Calvert-Lewin was pictured in the middle of the pitch attack after his crucial header
But Everton turned the game into a sensational second half, as Michael Keane pulled back a goal before Richardson equalized and Dominic Calvert-Lewin completed the return with a diving header five minutes ahead of time.
‘It’s an incredible night,’ said manager Lampard. “I have been playing for a long time and coaching in a relatively short period of time. I have achieved a lot but this night is among them. In my managerial career, he is probably the top
‘To win 3-2 down 2-0, with Premier League safety on the line and what it means for the club, is special.
‘It’s a big achievement for the club because going down the line would have been huge for everyone.
‘The visuals at the end were incredible and well deserved. I didn’t have any problems. It was pure enthusiasm from fans who wanted to stay in the Premier League. As long as everyone else is behaving, let them have their moment.
Lampard revels in an ‘incredible night’ as his side guaranteed their Premier League place
Everton’s dressing room had scenes of joy and happiness after 3-2 win
‘People will say, ‘You are celebrating by standing up’, but it means a lot to everyone. People will not forget this.’
Lampard replaced Rafa Benitez as manager in January, when Everton were 16th and four points above the relegation zone.
He said, ‘I think I am full of thanks. “Thank you to the fans for taking me on board, to the board and the owner for choosing me at a difficult time for the club, when it looked like we were going in the wrong direction.”
‘And thank you to the players, because as much as I said about the fans, so did the players today.
‘The game was not going as we wanted it to. The second goal was very bad for us. But what was important was how much fighting spirit we had to put in to turn the game around.
Vieira said: ‘We lost control of the game. When things were going well, we started doing a little showboating. We stopped doing simple things. He believes he had a chance and didn’t give up.