Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 6y

FA to investigate incident between Firmino, Holgate - sources

The Football Association will investigate an incident involving Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino and Everton defender Mason Holgate after sources confirmed that referee Bobby Madley will submit a report to the FA's disciplinary committee on Saturday detailing the allegation made by Holgate.

Holgate, 21, reacted angrily to comments made by Firmino, who television cameras caught swearing in Portuguese, after shoving the Brazilian into the stands during the first half of Everton's 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat at Anfield.

Everton manager Sam Allardyce and senior club officials refused to discuss the exact nature of Holgate's accusation of Firmino following the game.

But a Liverpool spokesman confirmed that the Anfield club will fully cooperate with any FA investigation.

The spokesman said: "The Club and player will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure the facts established in a thorough manner if deemed necessary or requested.

"While that process is ongoing, we will not be making any further comment."

Sources told ESPN FC that Firmino did not make a statement after the game and that the player was not asked to do so.

Allardyce, meanwhile, would not disclose his understanding of the incident when asked by reporters after the game.

"I'm telling you nothing until whatever systems are used to find out what did happen," Allardyce said. "I'm here to talk about football, not controversial incidents.

"Whatever happens outside the game needs to be dealt with by the authorities.

"Even if I had or I hadn't, I wouldn't tell anyone in the press conference. That is for other areas of the football club. I have told the director of football to sort that out."

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said he initially misunderstood the situation, but could not disclose any details.

"I only heard about something, but I can't say anything so far because I couldn't speak to anybody," Klopp said. "From now on, the club will answer. I don't really know anything about it.

"I misjudged the situation, obviously, completely. I thought it was about the Holgate foul. At the end there was no foul, no yellow card, nothing. I didn't get it. It was a throw in.

"I didn't understand the whole situation, but I got information that something obviously happened, but I can't say anything more about it."

Liverpool correspondent Glenn Price contributed to this report.

^ Back to Top ^