By Abigail Withey
Everton fans have expressed their views on social media after the club announced Rovio Entertainment as the Toffees’ first ever sleeve partner.
Rovio are the games giant behind the huge Angry Birds franchise and the new deal will be expected to open a range of marketing opportunities to new global audiences for both the club and the entertainment brand.
The club announced that the Blues had signed a multi-year partnership with Rovio on their official Twitter account and official website on Sunday.
However, the new deal has sparked outrage among fans as the sleeve logo will mean a red bird is displayed on the players’ jerseys and for a majority of supporters having the colours of their Merseyside rivals on their jersey in unthinkable.
Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
You need a blue bird 🐦…. red on the blue kit is sacrilege 🙄
— Paul (@tubby_toffee) September 17, 2017
— Chris Jones (@ChrisJ1878) September 17, 2017
Should have put the shirt on the pigs that get destroyed, because that's what is happening to us every time we take to the pitch!
— Steve Organ (@organstephen) September 17, 2017
Did no-one at the club stop and think that it's RED!!!!
— paul gwyther (@gwythp) September 17, 2017
Goes well with the angry fans. 😡😡
— William Chapman (@Chappy260) September 17, 2017
Point deduction please @FA
— Henrik (@Henrikinho__) September 17, 2017
Why didn't you use the bird that splits into three, at least he's blue !!! 😡😡😡
— Callum (@Cal_EFC) September 17, 2017
The Angry Birds logo will feature on the left sleeve of the Toffees players’ jerseys for the first time during their upcoming Premier League fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
This is the first season that top flight clubs have been allowed to carry sponsorship on the sleeve of the players’ strips.
Everton face Jose Mourinho’s side in the Premier League and will be hoping to secure their second win of the campaign after only managing a 1-0 victory during the opening weekend of the season against Stoke City.
In other Everton news, fans have expressed their frustrations on Twitter after the Toffees displayed a disappointing performance in their Europa League opener.
We’ve launched a << BREAKING NEWS FEED>> exclusively for your club. ‘Like Us’ on Facebook by clicking here if you want 24/7 updates on all Everton breaking news.