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Everton set to ditch pre-match ritual out of respect for Ukraine players in both theirs and Man City’s squads

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EVERTON are set to ditch their usual pre-match routine against Manchester City out of respect for Ukrainian players on both teams.

The Toffees usually play air raid sirens at Goodison Park as part of their hype music ahead of kick-off.

Everton are set to scrap their air raid sirens ahead of tonight’s match with Manchester CityCredit: Getty
New Everton signing Vitaliy Mykolenko is from UkraineCredit: PA

They were used as part of Evertonian boxer Tony Bellew’s ring walk song with a variation of Z Cars.

And his beloved Everton introduced them to the pre-match build-up for matches at Goodison in 2019, first used ahead of a 0-0 draw with rivals Liverpool.

But it is expected the club have decided against using the sirens for this evening’s kick-off due to the need for the emergency sounds this week in Ukraine amid the invasion by Russia in a complete abandonment of the Minsk agreements.

On a similar note, Leicester City removed the song Fire by local band Kasabian as their goal music following the tragic helicopter crash which claimed the lives of five people including chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in 2018.

Both the Toffees and City have Ukrainian players – left-backs Vitaliy Mykolenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Furious Zinchenko, who attended a Manchester vigil in support of Ukraine, told Russian president Vladimir Putin: “I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature.”

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Plenty of supporters will likely hold Ukraine flags in the stands in support of the people of Ukraine and their own players.

Displaying national flags is not considered a breach of the FA’s political laws.

But individual messages could be investigated on a case-by-case basis and may be subject to sanctions.

Mykolenko has taken to social media repeatedly this week to highlight the terrors his country are facing – and called on political leaders across the world to take action.

The 22-year-old defender only joined the Toffees from Dynamo Kiev in January.

He has made three appearances so far, with one in the Premier League.

According to the Daily Mail, Everton will offer to provide support for Mykolenko during these troubling times while West Ham have given winger Andriy Yarmolenko time off.

The sirens were introduced for the first time at Goodison Park in 2019Credit: Rex
Oleksandr Zinchenko has expressed his pain and fury at the situation on social mediaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

Tagcloud: FootballPremier LeagueSport

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