Rough tackles are part and parcel of the Premier League. Anyone who’s watched a few games knows that crunching challenges and full-blooded 50-50s are just another matchday in English football. But every now and then, something happens that pushes past the usual noise and into territory where lines get crossed—both on the pitch and far beyond it.
That’s exactly what happened during the recent Merseyside derby, when Everton defender James Tarkowski lunged into a late tackle on Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister early in the match.
In the 11th minute at Anfield, Tarkowski went in hard. Mac Allister, with his typical agility, tried to skip away from the incoming challenge—but the Everton defender had already committed. The contact was heavy, late, and raised plenty of eyebrows. Referee Sam Barrott showed a yellow card, but the real conversation started afterward, when VAR decided there was no need for further review.
In hindsight, even the league’s own refereeing body, PGMOL, admitted that a monitor check should have been recommended. They acknowledged the tackle should’ve been reviewed for serious foul play. That would’ve likely meant a red card and an early exit for Tarkowski. But instead of the spotlight staying on officiating standards, the reaction took a much darker turn.
As the game ended, what should’ve been a post-match discussion about decision-making quickly spiraled into something more sinister. Tarkowski and his family became the targets of death threats and online abuse.
The fallout was swift. Everton, along with manager David Moyes, released strong statements condemning the harassment. Moyes didn’t shy away from admitting the tackle looked worse on replay, saying, “It could have been a red.” But he also made it clear: there is no world in which that justifies personal threats.
Tarkowski’s wife, Samantha, also stepped into the conversation. Her social media post revealed the extent of the abuse they were facing—comments not only wishing harm on her husband, but also dragging their family into the mud. She reminded everyone that behind the jersey is a human being. A father. A partner. A son. Someone who didn’t leave the pitch proud of his challenge but who stayed afterward to apologize, face to face, with Mac Allister.
And yes, Mac Allister accepted the apology. No fuss. No drama. Just two professionals handling an ugly moment with a bit of dignity.
But that moment of mutual respect stood in stark contrast to the online fury that exploded afterward. When football fans start sending threats to players and their families, it’s no longer about football. It’s about a culture that’s forgotten where the boundaries are.
