Three men have been charged following violent clashes during a match between Everton and Lyon.

Trouble flared in the stands at Goodison during a heated second-half Europa League Group E clash with the French side on Thursday, October 19, last year.

It followed a melee involving players which moved towards supporters in the Gwladys Street end.

Today police confirmed three men have been charged with battery in connection with the ugly scenes.

Merseyside Police detectives investigated following a disturbance towards the front of the Lower Gwladys Street end and reviewed footage following the incident.

Today they said Michael Darren Fitzpatrick, 30, of Derby Square, Prescot; Callum McCready, 19, of Four Acre Lane, Clock Face, St Helens and Daniel John Helbert, 30, of Ashbourne Crescent, Roby have been charged with battery.

They are due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 9.

Everton were hit with with a €30,000 fine following the crowd trouble during the game.

UEFA charged the club with “aggression by supporters against players”.

Television footage also showed one fan leaving his seat and appearing to hit out at a Lyon player, whilst also holding a child.

Everton striker Oumar Niasse becomes first Premier League player to be charged with simulation after being awarded controversial penalty

striker Oumar Niasse has been charged with simulation by the Football Association after he won a controversial penalty in Saturday‘s draw at Crystal Palace.

Niasse could become the first Premier League player to be hit with a retrospective ban for diving following the introduction of the new law at the start of the season.

But the 27-year-old will only be handed a two-match suspension if the panel which convenes to oversee his case unanimously agree that Niasse was guilty of the offence. 

Niasse went down inside the Palace box with referee Anthony Taylor deeming the Senegal international had been fouled by Eagles defender Scott Dann.

Dann himself reacted angrily over the decision which saw Leighton Baines tuck away the resulting penalty to cancel out Wifried Zaha‘s early opener for the hosts.

Dann said after the game that Niasse, who drew Everton level for a second time with an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, had ‘conned the referee‘ and now the FA has announced that the player has been charged.

‘Everton‘s Oumar Niasse has been charged for “Successful Deception of a Match Official” following the game against Crystal Palace on 18 November 2017,‘ a statement on their website read.

‘It is alleged he committed an act of simulation which led to a penalty being awarded in the 5th minute of the game,‘ the FA statement continued.

‘He has until 6pm on 21 November 2017 to respond.

HOW RETROSPECTIVE DIVING BANS WORK 

The Football Association review footage each Monday looking for cases of simulation. 

Any player that is found guilty of diving or ‘successful deception of a match official‘ will be given a suspension.

Incidents only resulting in a penalty being awarded or an opponent being sent off – whether that‘s through two yellow cards or one red – will be punished.

The FA will act if ‘there is clear and overwhelming evidence to suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation, and as a direct result, the offending player’s team has been awarded a penalty and/or an opposing player has been dismissed‘.

The panel consists of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player. The current pool is as follows:

CURRENT POOL OF FORMER PLAYERS, MANAGERS, AND OFFICIALS  Former playersFormer managers  Former match officials  Rachel Brown-Finnis 
Lee Dixon 
Danny Murphy 
Trevor Sinclair
Nigel Atkins
Alex McLeish 
Chris Powell
Terry Butcher Karen Barratt
Steve Dunn
Mike Mullarkey
Alan Wiley
Eddie Wolstenhome

‘Incidents which suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation are referred to a panel consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player.

‘Each panel member will be asked to review all available video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it was an offence of ‘successful deception of a match official‘.

‘Only in circumstances where the panel are unanimous would the FA issue a charge.‘

Niasse defended himself following the incident and told the Liverpool Echo he would be ‘shocked‘ to be charged – although he does now have a case to answer.

The forward was out of favour at the start of the campaign but, with the Toffees struggling for results, he has now scored five goals in seven appearances this season. 

Everton striker Oumar Niasse becomes first Premier League player to be charged with simulation after being awarded controversial penalty

striker Oumar Niasse has been charged with simulation by the Football Association after he won a controversial penalty in Saturday‘s draw at Crystal Palace.

Niasse could become the first Premier League player to be hit with a retrospective ban for diving following the introduction of the new law at the start of the season.

But the 27-year-old will only be handed a two-match suspension if the panel which convenes to oversee his case unanimously agree that Niasse was guilty of the offence. 

Niasse went down inside the Palace box with referee Anthony Taylor deeming the Senegal international had been fouled by Eagles defender Scott Dann.

Dann himself reacted angrily over the decision which saw Leighton Baines tuck away the resulting penalty to cancel out Wifried Zaha‘s early opener for the hosts.

Dann said after the game that Niasse, who drew Everton level for a second time with an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, had ‘conned the referee‘ and now the FA has announced that the player has been charged.

‘Everton‘s Oumar Niasse has been charged for “Successful Deception of a Match Official” following the game against Crystal Palace on 18 November 2017,‘ a statement on their website read.

‘It is alleged he committed an act of simulation which led to a penalty being awarded in the 5th minute of the game,‘ the FA statement continued.

‘He has until 6pm on 21 November 2017 to respond.

HOW RETROSPECTIVE DIVING BANS WORK 

The Football Association review footage each Monday looking for cases of simulation. 

Any player that is found guilty of diving or ‘successful deception of a match official‘ will be given a suspension.

Incidents only resulting in a penalty being awarded or an opponent being sent off – whether that‘s through two yellow cards or one red – will be punished.

The FA will act if ‘there is clear and overwhelming evidence to suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation, and as a direct result, the offending player’s team has been awarded a penalty and/or an opposing player has been dismissed‘.

The panel consists of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player. The current pool is as follows:

CURRENT POOL OF FORMER PLAYERS, MANAGERS, AND OFFICIALS  Former playersFormer managers  Former match officials  Rachel Brown-Finnis 
Lee Dixon 
Danny Murphy 
Trevor Sinclair
Nigel Atkins
Alex McLeish 
Chris Powell
Terry Butcher Karen Barratt
Steve Dunn
Mike Mullarkey
Alan Wiley
Eddie Wolstenhome

‘Incidents which suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation are referred to a panel consisting of one ex-match official, one ex-manager and one ex-player.

‘Each panel member will be asked to review all available video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it was an offence of ‘successful deception of a match official‘.

‘Only in circumstances where the panel are unanimous would the FA issue a charge.‘

Niasse defended himself following the incident and told the Liverpool Echo he would be ‘shocked‘ to be charged – although he does now have a case to answer.

The forward was out of favour at the start of the campaign but, with the Toffees struggling for results, he has now scored five goals in seven appearances this season. 

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has made three changes to his line-up to face Everton in the New Year’s Day Premier League fixture.

Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian return to the bench after recovering from injury but Ashley Young starts a three-game suspension.

Paul Pogba is again captain and starts with Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera in midfield.

Luke Shaw gets another go at left-back, while Anthony Martial starts up front.

Romelu Lukaku is sidelined after suffering a head injury against Southampton, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to be absent for a month because of a knee problem.

Marouane Fellaini is still out injured and Eric Bailly is set to miss the next few weeks with an ankle problem that requires surgery. Captain Michael Carrick is still sidelined after having a minor heart procedure, but could hopefully return in the new year.

United team: De Gea, Lindelof, Jones, Rojo, Shaw, Matic, Herrera, Mata, Pogba, Lingard, Martial.

Subs: Romero, Blind, Darmian, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Mkhitaryan, Rashford.

Follow live updates from the game here.

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