Everton fans clash over Emi Martinez boos at Hill Dickinson Stadium after Chelsea goalkeeper’s head injury

Everton supporters have disagreed over the boos heard at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, after Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital following a serious head injury.

Chelsea won the Premier League fixture 2-0, with Pedro Neto scoring both goals after the break, a result that lifted Xabi Alonso’s side up to fourth in the table.

While it was a frustrating afternoon for Everton, who suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season, the talking point since has been the atmosphere during the lengthy stoppage.

Emiliano Martinez taken to hospital after collision with Branthwaite

According to Metro, the incident happened in the second half, when Martinez clashed heads with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while challenging for the ball. The Argentine lay motionless on the turf and Chelsea’s players immediately signalled to the bench for help.

The 34-year-old needed oxygen and received treatment on the pitch for more than ten minutes before being carried off on a stretcher. Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders came on in his place, and Martinez was taken to hospital. Boos could be heard as the stretcher left the field.

Premier League Productions commentator Daniel Mann criticised the reaction in the stands, calling the booing “quite extraordinary”, with his co-commentator Jim Beglin agreeing. Metro also reported that the majority of Everton supporters were seen applauding Martinez as he left the pitch.

Everton fans disagree over who the boos were for

Metro reported that home supporters also booed Chelsea fans in the away end, who were chanting about benefits while Martinez received treatment. After the game, some Everton fans argued online that the boos heard as Martinez was carried off were aimed at the visiting supporters rather than the injured goalkeeper.

One Everton supporter wrote in an online fan group that “nobody was booing Martinez”, criticising Chelsea fans for their chants during the stoppage.

However, another supporter who was sitting in the North Stand disputed that account, saying the boos around him were “very definitely aimed at Martinez”. He stressed that those involved were a minority of Everton fans and described attempts to blame Chelsea supporters as “pathetic”, while also condemning the away fans’ chanting.

A further Everton supporter, who was sitting behind the goal where the collision happened, described a mixed reaction. He said some fans shouted and booed Martinez, while others reacted to Neto, the Chelsea supporters and the referee. He added that “a lot of fans clapped him off”. The supporter also admitted that he initially thought Branthwaite was play-acting before realising he had been wrong.

FGG says: A moment that should have united the ground

Whatever the exact target of the boos, an injured player being carried off in distressing circumstances should have brought the whole stadium together.

Everton fans can take heart from the many who applauded Martinez, but the conflicting accounts show how divided opinions became after the incident. Martinez’s recovery is the most important concern following a distressing moment at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.