Crazy scenes as fan holding child lashes out at players

An Everton fan holding a child has bizarrely involved himself in a scuffle between his club's players and Lyon during a Europa League game at Goodison Park.

Lyon led the home side 1-0 after 63 minutes when skipper Ashley Williams pushed opposition goalkeeper Anthony Lopes to the ground.

As a scuffle fell off the pitch and into the advertising hoardings, many Everton fans got involved with their words.

But one man, holding a toddler, came down from his seat a couple of rows away and pushed a Lyon player's head.

A nearby steward did not intervene but the man did move away immediately as Lyon players questioned him, seemingly noticing the child.

Lyon went on to win 2-1 to pile the pressure on Everton manager Ronald Koeman.

Nabil Fekir's penalty put French side Lyon ahead early on as Everton struggled for inspiration with Wayne Rooney rested and watching on from the stands.

The crowd only really got behind their team when a mass brawl broke out between the players in the second half after skipper Ashley Williams pushed over Anthony Lopes as the Lyon goalkeeper jumped to catch the ball.

The Wales international was lucky not to see red as he also appeared to land blows on several players, while some home fans tried to get in on the action by leaning over the barriers.

The incident is unlikely to go unnoticed by UEFA, but Williams brushed it off by powering home a header from a Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick just minutes later.

But Lyon were the better side and retook the lead through Bertrand Traore's clever finish.

Williams played down his moment of madness, telling BT Sport: "It's football. It is what it is. We want to win and so do they. These things happen."

Everton now turn their attentions to a home Premier League match with Arsenal on Sunday, where anything other than three points would put Koeman's position under even more scrutiny.

"It is a big one. They are all big, especially against a top team at home," Williams added. "We need a win and a performance."

The Merseyside outfit, who have only won two Premier League matches in eight games this season despite significant close-season transfer investment, remain bottom of Group E on one point after a winless three games.

with AFP