Everton praised for response to chants appearing to mock issue of food poverty

Everton fans have been praised for their response to the chants.

Everton have been praised for their response to "extremely disappointing" chants from rival supporters that appeared to mock the issue of food poverty in Liverpool.

Chants were allegedly heard from sections of Newcastle and Chelsea fans which prompted the hosts to flash the 'Fans Supporting Foodbanks' campaign logo across the big screen at Goodison Park.

Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, co-founder of the campaign, said on Everton's official website: "It's really sad to hear the chants on Thursday from the Newcastle supporters and then hearing it again on Sunday from the Chelsea supporters.

"We've been going for eight years now, and we've done lots of work with Newcastle and Chelsea fans. It's not as if those supporters aren't living in areas where they're seeing the cost of living crisis in their communities.

"It was extremely disappointing to hear, but I thought Everton's response was phenomenal. I think the work of Evertonians has been magnificent in the past few weeks.

"The van has been getting fuller and fuller at every home game."

The initiative, which started in 2015, invites supporters to donate non-perishable and dried goods, and is open three hours before kick-off on matchdays.