Everton football club have released a statement, saying that the Sun newspaper has been banned from coming to Goodison Park.

This development follows the news that Sun columnist Kelvin MacKenzie has been suspended for views he expressed about Liverpool people. Merseyside police have also revealed they are investigating claims that a newspaper column about Everton's Ross Barkley contains references that amount to a 'racial hate crime.'

Barkley was reported to have been punched in an 'unprovoked' attack in a nightclub last weekend. Writing about the incident, MacKenzie likened Barkley to 'a gorilla in the zoo.'

The full statement from Everton reads:

Club Statement: pic.twitter.com/xDkptbbamk

— Everton (@Everton) April 15, 2017