Everton fan allowed to take penalty as a gesture of goodwill for helping Ukraine refugees

Everton supporter Paul Stratton was allowed to take a penalty against Dynamo Kyiv as a gesture of goodwill for helping Ukrainian refugees.

Stratton, a Liverpool council worker and an ex-police officer, has been of service to the Ukrainian refugees in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion.

As reported by Liverpool Echo, Stratton, assisted by his former colleagues, travelled to Poland in March to help the Ukrainian people who were fleeing from their homeland.

His heroics were recognised by the Toffees, who offered him a cameo on the field against Kyiv on Friday.

Frank Lampard introduced Stratton as a substitute to take a penalty, which he successfully converted.

Making the evening even more emotional, Everton full-back Vitaliy Mykolenko was awarded the captain’s armband against his former club.

The Ukrainian international, who moved to Goodison Park earlier this year, oversaw the Toffees winning the game 3-0.

The 23-year-old got a bit emotional ahead of the game, stating that his military father is still fighting in his homeland.

Mykolenko said (h/t the Daily Mail): “My family is still in Ukraine, everyone – my uncle, my dad, my mother. They are OK. 

‘[My father] is military but he is in Kyiv. He is working in a military unit, but he is not going to the east of Ukraine. I am proud of him. I love them, my father, my mother.”

The Toffees will face Chelsea in their first game of the 2022/23 Premier League next week.