During Tottenham Hotspur’s recent clash against Everton, one player in particular, Son Heung-min, was subjected to relentless boos from the home fans at Goodison Park. The boos greeted Son every time he touched the ball in the first half, leading many to wonder about the reason behind the hostility directed towards the Spurs forward. Fans quickly speculated that the negative reception was rooted in an incident that occurred several years ago involving a tackle on Everton’s former midfielder Andre Gomes.
The incident in question took place in November 2019, during a Premier League match between Tottenham and Everton. Son was involved in a challenge on Gomes that resulted in a serious injury to the Portuguese international. Gomes suffered a dislocated and fractured ankle, an injury that kept him sidelined for several months. The tackle was initially deemed a red-card offense by referee Martin Atkinson, who sent Son off the pitch for serious foul play. However, the Football Association later overturned the red card decision on appeal, stating that it was a freak accident and not a deliberate act of malice.
Despite the FA’s ruling and Son’s subsequent apology for the incident, in which he expressed deep regret and stated that he was “really sorry,” the memory of Gomes’ injury has seemingly lingered in the minds of Everton supporters. This is reflected in the ongoing boos directed at Son, with many fans of the Merseyside club continuing to hold a grudge over the tackle, even though replays indicated that Son was not at fault for Gomes’ injury. Some fans have even pointed out that the injury was purely accidental, with no malice intended by Son during the challenge.
The tension between Son and Everton fans resurfaced in the recent match, and social media reactions from fans further confirmed the connection to the 2019 incident. One fan commented, “Everton fans still booing Son for the Andre Gomes injury, it was a freak accident,” highlighting the long-standing nature of the animosity. Another fan simply expressed frustration, writing, “Everton fans still boo Son,” showing that the incident still weighs heavily on the minds of some supporters
The atmosphere at Goodison Park was charged with emotion as the game unfolded, with Everton’s fans also buoyed by their team’s strong performance. They took the lead early in the match, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring after a well-worked opportunity inside the box. The situation worsened for Spurs as Everton extended their lead, with Iliman Ndiaye scoring a second before an unfortunate own goal by Tottenham’s Archie Gray made it 3-0 shortly before halftime.
During this difficult first half for Tottenham, Son had a chance to reduce the deficit when his low shot was saved by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The missed opportunity, combined with the hostile reception from the crowd, added to the frustrations of Son and his teammates as they struggled to get a foothold in the game. However, despite the personal and team setbacks, the booing from Everton fans seemed to be one of the key storylines of the match, highlighting how past incidents continue to shape the present.
The boos, while directed at Son, also reflect the broader context of football rivalries and the emotional intensity that can sometimes persist long after the events themselves. For Everton fans, the injury to Gomes was a traumatic moment, and while Son’s actions were not deemed malicious by official authorities, the perception of the tackle remains etched in the collective memory of the fanbase. The fact that some fans continue to boo Son after all these years speaks to the deep-rooted nature of football rivalries and the emotional attachment supporters have to their players.
Despite the ongoing boos, Son’s professionalism and composure on the pitch have remained largely unaffected by the hostility. He has continued to focus on his performances for Tottenham, working hard to contribute to the team’s success. However, the boos from the Everton supporters have undoubtedly added another layer of pressure, both for Son as an individual and for Tottenham as a team, as they aim to turn their fortunes around following a series of disappointing results.
In summary, the boos directed at Son Heung-min during the Everton match appear to be a continuation of the fallout from the infamous incident involving Andre Gomes’ injury in 2019. While the tackle was ruled accidental by the FA and Son later apologized, the incident has left a lasting impression on some Everton fans, who continue to hold a grudge. This ongoing tension highlights the complexity of football rivalries and the deep emotions that can be attached to moments from the past, even when they have been officially resolved.
