Everton striker Neal Maupay has spoken out after video footage emerged of him arguing with club fans at Euston train station. In ugly scenes, Maupay and team-mates were abused as they boarded the train back to Liverpool following Saturday’s 4-0 hammering at the hands of Tottenham.
Maupay, 28, appeared to take the brunt of the anger, despite not even setting foot on the field on Saturday.
The French forward was told to ‘f*** off’ as he walked alongside a security guard, with defender Mason Holgate also targeted.
Maupay chose to react to the shouts, appearing to repay the compliment as he approached the train. That only served to exacerbate the situation, with one fan then vociferously questioning his current wages.
The unsavoury footage has since gone viral on social media, and on Sunday, Maupay himself commented on developments. And he didn’t hold back with his views on the club’s travelling support.
“Imagine another job where it’s normalised to get abuse like this,” he posted on X. “Hanging around at a train station to scream at men who are trying their best…”
His post followed a statement by Everton fan group A View From The Bullens, who were at pains to argue that the fans involved did not represent the majority.
“After a video of Everton fans went viral this evening abusing the playing squad, we wanted to point out this was just a minority of supporters,” they said.
“Whilst we do not speak for everyone, we’d like to think Everton fans do not condone this sort of behaviour. Performances and results have not gone as well as we would have all hoped, but our support for the players and staff will not waiver.
“A frustrated fanbase but also a fanbase that will support the team no matter how far.”
On Sunday, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville had expressed sympathy for the Everton fanbase after a second straight defeat left them rock bottom of the Premier League with a goal difference of -7.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: “Everton fans go every game, 10’s and 10’s of thousands, and they just let get down, by poor performance levels over many years now and it’s really disappointing.”
Maupay spent last season on loan at Brentford, and Saturday’s incident will now raise further question marks on his future. Manager Sean Dyche has admitted he could be forced to make further player sales this week in a bid to balance the books.
The atmosphere at Goodison Park could potentially turn toxic this week with the club facing two home games. The Toffees host Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, and then host Bournemouth on Saturday in the last game before the international break.
