Emi Martinez required oxygen on the pitch (The Press Association)
Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez was taken to hospital with serious head injury against Everton on Saturday but boos could be heard as he left the pitch on a stretcher.
Martinez clashed heads with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the second half and Chelsea’s players immediately signalled towards the bench as the Argentine goalkeeper was motionless on the ground after the collision.
The 34-year-old, who was signed in a £7.5 million deal from Aston Villa in the summer transfer window, required oxygen from emergency medical staff and was given extensive treatment on the pitch for over 10 minutes.
But as Martinez was carried off the field on a stretcher, boos could be heard around the Hill Dickinson Stadium, although the majority of Everton supporters were seen applauding the Argentine goalkeeper.
Daniel Mann, the commentator for Premier League Productions, immediately highlighted the response inside the stadium as Martinez was carried off the pitch.
‘One of the game’s great goalkeepers leaves the stage in distressing circumstances,’ Mann said during his in-game commentary.
Emiliano Martinez clashed heads with Jarrad Branthwaite (AFP via Getty)
‘I find it quite extraordinary that that should be booed by anyone in this stadium.’
Mann’s co-commentator, Jim Beglin, added: ‘Hear, hear.’
Chelsea’s players immediately signalled to the bench after the collision (Getty)
During the stoppage in play, Everton supporters also reacted with boos towards the section of away Chelsea fans who were chanting ‘sign on, sign on’ and ‘we pay for your benefits’ while Martinez received treatment.
After the match a dispute emerged between Everton supporters, with many claiming that the boos were directed at the Chelsea fans instead of Martinez.
Jean Breeze, an Everton supporter, wrote in an online fan group: ‘Nobody was booing Martinez. The boos were against the Chelsea fans. Criticise them for showing lack of concern for their own goalkeeper when they’d rather chant poverty comments against the opposition.’
Everton fans closer to the pitch were seen applauding Emi Martinez as he left the pitch (EPA)
However, David Sullivan, an Everton supporter who was sat in the North Stand, disputed that suggestion.
‘Sorry, but no they were not,’ Sullivan wrote.
‘The boos from the people sat near me were very definitely aimed at Martinez, as their accompanying comments made very clear. It was a minority of our fans but it did happen and to be frank, trying to pretend it was aimed at the Chelsea fans, is pathetic.
‘At no point have I tried to claim that Chelsea fans did not engage in poverty chanting. I condemned it at the time and will continue to do so. But let me be plain, the comments and booing by some Everton fans sitting near me were not in response to what Chelsea fans were chanting. It was very clear as Martinez was carried off that they were aimed directly at him. And just as I will make a post condemning the Chelsea fans for what they did, it is just the same to criticise what some of our fans for what they did.’
Just in case there are any Chelsea fans out there wondering what we were booing when your keeper got stretchered off. It was the 10 minutes of this before, rather than you support him.
Another Everton fan, Scot Kearney, who was sat behind the goal where Martinez’s injury took place, wrote: ‘At best it was a few fans shouting stuff that was embarrassing and booing at Martinez but Neto was eyeballing the fans too which got some boos and the Chelsea fans were doing the poverty chants. The ref was getting it too. It was a mix of everything for about 10 mins. A lot of fans clapped him off.
‘At the time it looked like Branthwaite got took out by Martinez and I thought he was more hurt than the keeper. I thought he was play acting and that got some boos. Looks like I was wrong as a probably a lot of other fans at the time.’
Martinez was replaced by Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders and was immediately taken to hospital.
‘As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious and right now he is in the hospital doing precautionary tests,’ Xabi Alonso said after Chelsea’s win.
‘So let’s see, but that’s what I know so far. We need to wait. Hopefully it won’t be too bad, but we need to wait at the moment.’
Two goals in the second half from Pedro Neto sealed a 2-0 win for Chelsea, who move up to fourth in the Premier League table.
