Everton Match Winner Richarlison To Face FA Investigation

Everton match winner Richarlison is set to be the subject of an FA investigation, following his match winning goal against Chelsea on Sunday.

The Toffees were in desperate need of all three points at Goodison Park, as Frank Lampard welcomed his former team amidst a tough relegation battle.

Burnley's back-to-back wins had left Everton five points from safety and looking like a first relegation since 1951, and with games running out it was becoming a major worry.

Richarlison put his side 1-0 up just a minute after the second half begun, pouncing on Cesar Azpilicueta's mistake and slotting past Edouard Mendy, to rapturous scenes from the home supporters.

Flares were thrown onto the pitch by the fans, with the forward picking one up and lobbing it back towards the stands, with the FA opening an investigation.

DEADLOCK BROKEN! 💥

Richarlison picks the pocket of Azpilicueta on the edge of his own area and cooly slots the ball past Mendy! 😎 pic.twitter.com/P0VEFoeDi4

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2022

At the time fans on social media felt the 24-year-old could have been sent off but Everton claimed the player was looking to get rid of the flare but away from the fans.

"We will look into the matter," the club said.

"As far we we are concerned, Richarlison was attempting to throw it out of the ground."

The club and the FA will both investigate the issue, with the FA having previously written to Liverpool's Harvey Elliott earlier this season when he handled a flare.

That came in the Carabao Cup final win on penalties, also against Chelsea, with the 19-year-old picking up the flare before putting it back down again.

In 2009 Didier Drogba was cautioned by the police after throwing a coin back into the crowd, after a Burnley fan had thrown it in his direction whilst he was celebrating a goal against the Clarets.

As well as Richarlison's goal, Lampard and Everton were grateful for Jordan Pickford's brilliant performance in goal, somehow saving from Azpilicueta's shot, after the initial chance had left the goalkeeper on the other side of the goal.

The Merseyside team are now just two points below both Leeds and Burnley, with the former dropping below the Clarets after recent results.

They have a game in hand and next travel to Leicester City and then Watford, although they have not won an away game in the league since August.