• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Everton Changed Pre-Match Goodison Park Ritual Against Manchester City Out Of Respect For Ukrainian Players

Home> Football

Updated 18:07 26 Feb 2022 GMTPublished 16:14 26 Feb 2022 GMT

Everton Changed Pre-Match Goodison Park Ritual Against Manchester City Out Of Respect For Ukrainian Players

Everton and Manchester City's left-backs are both from Ukraine.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Everton decided to scrap their pre-match tradition at Goodison Park out of respect for Ukrainian players.

The Toffees hosted Manchester City in the the 17:30 kick-off and played the Z Cars theme as the players came out of the tunnel as has been the case for the number of years.

In 2019, the Merseyside outfit changed things up and had air raid sirens preceding the normal tune.

Those sirens were used by former world champion boxer and staunch Everton fan Tony Bellew for his ring walk music and were adopted by the club.

Advert

The first play of the remix track took place ahead of the Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

However, the club felt as though it would not be in good taste for the sirens to play over the tannoy system due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the fact that emergency sounds were heard this week.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Everton's January signing Vitaliy Mykolenko is from Ukraine, as is Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko - and the two shared a powerful embrace before the game.

Advert

Everton played the Hollies hit 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' as the players line up on the pitch.

The cameras panned to the bench where a tearful Zinchenko was clearly moved by the scenes.


Advert

Zinchenko, who was forced to leave Donetsk when playing for Shakhtar in 2014, took to Instagram to post a picture of Russia president Vladimir Putin to his story, with the caption: “I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature.”

The post was taken down, with the former FC Ufa player claiming it was deleted by Instagram.

Zinchenko, capped 48 times for his country, attended a vigil alongside fellow Ukrainians at Manchester Central Library on Thursday.

Zinchenko remained available for selection, with Pep Guardiola hailing him as "an incredible, strong guy".

Advert

But Guardiola has confirmed the club are fully supporting the 25-year-old given the situation in his home country.

Guardiola said: "What would you do if someone attacked the UK? How would you react? How would you feel? It’s what he feels [to protest]. Unfortunately around the world there are many wars – this is a new one. It’s more than a pity because innocent people are dying when these innocent people just want to live in peace.

“He is worried. What would we feel if in our country, where we were born and have family and friends, innocent people are being killed? How will you feel? I guess that’s what he feels. Of course, the team and the club is close to him, unconditionally.”

Meanwhile, Everton boss Frank Lampard also said the decision on Mykolenko's availability was down to the player himself.

Featured Image Credit: Image: Everton

Topics: Everton, Manchester City, Ukraine

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Arsenal 'planning' sensational swap deal with Crystal Palace to sign Eberechi Eze and it's pure genius

    Mikel Arteta is desperate to add the Crystal Palace man to his squad.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Barcelona prepared to issue ultimate humiliation to Marcus Rashford as Man Utd star makes shock Carrington appearance

    Marcus Rashford continues to be linked with a move away from Manchester United.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    What happened to the 25 players Bleacher Report tipped to be the 'next Lionel Messi' back in 2010

    They were touted to become the next Messi.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Kylian Mbappe has named his pick for 2025 Ballon d'Or ahead of PSG vs Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo agrees

    Kylian Mbappe has the same pick as Cristiano Ronaldo for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award, having made his feelings clear.

    Football
  • Everton and Liverpool players involved in furious Goodison Park finale with FOUR red cards handed out
  • Fans make the same point about Amazon Prime coverage just minutes into Man City vs Everton
  • Man City fans turn on one player after defeat to Celtic in pre-season match
  • Man City issue statement after death of fan during Manchester derby against United