Saturday 15 April 2017 13:16, UK
Everton have banned The Sun from "all areas of the club's operation" in the aftermath of an article expressing "wrong" and "unfunny" views about the people of Liverpool.
Columnist Kelvin MacKenzie was suspended by the newspaper's owners News UK on Friday after Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson reported to police an article which he claimed contained "a racial slur".
The article was about Everton footballer Ross Barkley, who was punched in a Liverpool city centre bar in the early hours of Monday.
A statement from the club on Saturday read: "Yesterday Everton Football Club informed The Sun newspaper it was banned from Goodison Park, the USM Finch Farm training ground and all areas of the club's operation.
"Whilst we will not dignify any journalist with a response to appalling and indefensible allegations, the newspaper has to know that any attack on this city, either against a much-respected community or individual, is not acceptable."
On Friday, a News UK spokesman said: "The Sun's columnist Kelvin MacKenzie has been suspended from the paper with immediate effect.
"The views expressed by Kelvin Mackenzie about the people of Liverpool were wrong, unfunny and are not the view of the paper.
"The Sun apologises for the offence caused.
"The paper was unaware of Ross Barkley's heritage and there was never any slur intended.
"Mr MacKenzie is currently on holiday and the matter will be fully investigated on his return."
England midfielder Barkley, 23, has a Nigerian grandfather.
MacKenzie has said he did not know of Barkley's family background and added that it was "beyond parody" for critics to describe his article as "racist".
