James Tarkowski’s wife, Samantha, has issued a statement condemning the “vile” abuse directed at her family following the Merseyside derby. The Everton captain found himself at the heart of controversy during his side’s 1-0 defeat to the Premier League champions-elect on Wednesday night.
In the first half, the 32-year-old launched into a full-blooded challenge on Alexis Mac Allister. Although he made contact with the ball, his high, studs-up tackle also caught the Liverpool midfielder, prompting many pundits and viewers to label it a potential leg-breaker and one of the most blatant red card offences in recent memory. Later, in the second half, Tarkowski was involved again, inadvertently redirecting the ball into the path of Diogo Jota, who went on to score Liverpool’s winning goal.
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Debate continues around whether Luis Díaz, positioned behind Tarkowski in an offside position, interfered with play and influenced the outcome of the goal. But tensions remain high, and now Tarkowski’s wife has taken to social media to reveal some of the vile messages her husband has received, despite the defender apologising to Mac Allister after the match.
Tarkowski’s Wife Releases Statement Amid ‘Vile’ Abuse
The Everton defender has been subject to disgusting overreactions
“I wasn’t actually going to say anything because we usually just laugh if off but f*** it,” Tarkowski’s wife said on Instagram. She continued (watch Tarkowski’s post-match interview below):
“The level of abuse my husband is receiving – wishing death on him, vile comments about me, about us as a couple, and about him as a person – is beyond disgusting. People forget that he is more than just a footballer. He is a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, and most importantly, the father of our two children.”
“He goes out there and does his job and does it very f****** well, yet he’s subjected to so much hate. For those acting like he deliberately set out to hurt someone – are you serious?! Football moves at speed, and tackles are split-second decisions. No player goes out there to injure someone and do you think any player would feel good about it if they did?
“But the pure s*** messages, the threats? That’s intentional. That’s on you. Football is a sport, but the way some so-called ‘fans’ behave is disgraceful. The abuse, the threats – it’s not passion, it’s pathetic. We’re real people, and this goes far beyond football.”
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Tarkowski, having been brought to Everton by his former Burnley boss Sean Dyche in 2022, has experienced the highs, the lows, and everything in between in just the last seven weeks alone. His last-gasp equaliser in the previous meeting will be immortalised as the final derby goal to be scored at Goodison Park.
But Wednesday night’s fiery encounter presented a very different set of obstacles for the Englishman, as everything he seemed to do was scrutinised under the lights at Anfield. Nonetheless, it was the Toffees’ first defeat in 10 games and their first on the road since the second-coming of David Moyes, proving the only way is up ahead of their housewarming party over at Bramley Moore Docks in the summer.
