Fan charged after Goodison Park match halted

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-merseyside-16834545

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A man has been charged after a football match between Everton and Manchester City was halted when a supporter handcuffed himself to a goalpost.

The pitch invasion forced the referee to halt play at Goodison Park for about five minutes on Tuesday night.

Merseyside Police said John Joseph Foley, 46, from Southport, had been charged with going on to the playing area during a football match.

He has been bailed to appear before Liverpool magistrates on 17 February.

The incident took place just before 20:40 GMT, five minutes before the end of the first half, with the match goalless.

Both teams' managers used the pause to speak to their players as several police officers worked to remove the man from visiting goalkeeper Joe Hart's left-hand post.

The man was led away and Everton went on to win the game 1-0.

In a statement, Everton said: "Bolt-cutters were used to remove the offender, who was roundly booed as he was escorted from the ground."