Thierno Barry insists friends in Everton away end were NOT Arsenal fans in fresh statement

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Thierno Barry insists he did NOT give tickets to Arsenal fans after sharing a video of his friends allegedly being attacked. The Frenchman shared a clip to his social media which claimed to show people he had invited to the game being targeted in the away end.

Merseyside Police have launched an investigation into the incident. But Barry has now decided to clarify exactly what happened.

Taking to X, he reaffirmed that the people in the video were simply his friends - and not Arsenal supporters. He said: “I would like to speak one last time regarding the incident that occurred after the match. Some of the information circulating does not reflect reality. Contrary to what has been suggested, I never gave tickets to Arsenal supporters.

“The people who were present to support me have always followed the clubs I have played for throughout my career, from Beveren to Basel, through Villarreal and now Everton . Yesterday, some of them were even wearing an Everton shirt with my name on it.

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“During the match, they were approached twice by supporters who asked whether they were supporting the opposing team. They clearly stated that this was not the case and that they were there to support me.

“Furthermore, the people visible in some of the videos are not members of my family. They are relatives of another player from the team. Unfortunately, they were confronted by a group of supporters who mistakenly believed they were celebrating Arsenal's goal.

“The stewards present witnessed the scene, My friends were insulted, how is that even possible? I simply want to remind everyone that violence has no place in football, regardless of the circumstances.

“An investigation is currently underway, and I have full confidence in the relevant authorities to establish the facts. Out of respect for this process, I will not make any further comments.”

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A spokesperson for the Met said: "Officers and stewards responded to the incident. No serious injuries were reported. Enquiries are ongoing and we are working with both clubs to identify those involved. There have been no arrests."

Everton eventually fell to a 2-0 defeat in North London. Viktor Gyokeres had given the hosts the lead late on, with Max Dowman netting in stoppage time to secure what could be a vital three points in the race for the Premier League crown.

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