Protestor who cable tied himself to Everton’s goal explains why he stopped Premier League clash vs Newcastle

The protester who cable tied himself to a goal at Goodison Park has appeared in a video explaining the stunt was for climate change activism.

The man, who has now identified himself as 21-year-old Louis McKechnie, ran onto Everton’s field of play during their 1-0 win over Newcastle before attaching himself to the goalpost around his neck.

Police and stewards struggled to release the protester who was wearing a t-shirt which read ‘Just Stop Oil’ leading to an extended stoppage-time period in the Premier League clash.

It took almost eight minutes and a pair of bolt cutters to release McKechnie, who was then arrested by Merseyside Police.

It proved a crucial moment of the game, with a ten-man Everton scoring the winning goal deep into the time added on to give themselves hope of avoiding relegation.

A TikTok video has since emerged, filmed by McKechnie outside of Goodison ahead of the match, with the young student explaining he was ‘terrified’ to enter the field of play.

“Hi, my name is Louis McKechnie, I’m 21 years old and I’m a mechanical engineering student,” he filmed himself saying outside of the ground.

“I’m about to disrupt a football match and I’m terrified, but I believe that as many people as possible need to know what a possible future holds.

McKechnie appears to be part of the Insulate Britain protest movement, having also been arrested for blocking the M25 motorway on October 8 which led to a prison sentence.

“The cost of living crisis, Covid and the war in Ukraine are showcasing this future,” he continued. 

“I want my government to do all that they can to stop this coming true but they are expanding oil and gas, making things worse, increasing the risk. 

“We know this because the International Energy Agency told us no new oil and gas from 2021 if governments are serious about this action on climate.

“We are calling on ordinary people to join thousands in mass civil resistance this spring, hundreds and hundreds of people of all ages have signed up to support the demand of no new oil and gas

“Just stop oil. It’s a no brainer first step to stop the harm. It starts in the following weeks, sign up below and find out more on what we’re doing, why it might just work and how ordinary people like us can step up and not stand by.

“The choice is yours, we can’t carry on as normal and have the same future.”