Everton hunt for Carroll incident culprit

THE FA have welcomed Everton’s initiative to identify the thug who threw an object at Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll during Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Goodison Park.

The fifth-round match was held up in the second half when Carroll was struck by a missile, believed to be a coin, thrown from the crowd.

A number of other missiles were also hurled, including a mobile phone, and after the match, violence spilled onto the surrounding streets.

Police made 33 arrests and five officers were injured - one of them requiring hospital treatment - after trying to break up groups of fighting supporters who clashed in the Everton Valley district of Liverpool.

The atmosphere had been intense from before kick-off and a large-scale police presence was required to escort the away supporters from the stadium back to the city.

A Merseyside Police spokesman stated the arrests made were for public order offences or for being drunk and disorderly.

Police revealed they are liaising with Everton stewards over the Carroll incident and will be studying CCTV and TV footage in an effort to identify who threw the missile.

Officers spoke to fans sitting near to where the incident took place in one of the home supporters’ stands and took witness statements.

Ian Ross, Everton’s director of communications, branded the fan responsible as a ‘mindless moron’.

“We are looking at CCTV and BBC’s film and if we are able to apprehend the culprit he will be banned from this ground for life.”