Everton: Richarlison calls on people to get vaccinated and ignore ‘conspiracy theories’ – The Athletic

Richarlison has called on people to get the COVID-19 vaccine and ignore “conspiracy theories”.

There had been a concern over the amount of Premier League players who had been vaccinated earlier this year, although in October the top-flight confirmed over two-thirds of players had been fully vaccinated.

A number of stars have publicly expressed their scepticism over the COVID-19 vaccine.

But Richarlison has now come forward and become one of the first Premier League players to call for people to get vaccinated.

The Everton forward told The Players’ Tribune: “I feel I have to say this because many people have still not been vaccinated.

“And not because there’s a lack of vaccines, or because of delays in the delivery, but by choice. That makes me worried. Really.

“Unfortunately, many of these people have been influenced by fake news and conspiracy theories that they then share on social media, without realising the damage it can cause to the health of the population.”

He then spoke about a former coach of his who had died from COVID: “Sebastiao Jose da Silva, Tiao ‘Butterfly’, who was my first

coach in Nova Venecia, when I was still known as ‘the Lamp’.

“Butterfly called me that because he said that I lit up the game for my teammates. He was the first one to notice real potential in my game. I was only around 10 years old, but I was never afraid of the bigger kids.

“Butterfly said I had an adult mentality. He always encouraged me. I was devastated when I learned of his death. He was too old… He couldn’t fight the virus.”

Richarlison added: “So please, get the vaccine. Trust science. Let’s finish this fight once and for all.”

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