Everton 'read the riot act' to Jordan Pickford after his wife posted 'in support of anti-vaxxers'

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was 'read the riot act' by his club Everton over apparent anti-vaxx posts shared on social media by his wife.

Everton bosses have spoken to a number of their stars over posts shared online by their loved ones to ensure they 'toe the line'.

And The Sun reports that the club sat down with Pickford after his wife Megan Davidson shared a picture of a voodoo doll with dozens of pins in it with the words 'just one more booster to freedom'.

Following the meeting, Pickford reportedly spoke with his wife and her post was removed from social media.

A source told The Sun: 'A number of players were read the riot act about their conduct and the behaviour of their families.

'Officials explained they were trying to get as many fans vaccinated to keep attendances up.'

MailOnline has approached Everton football club and Jordan Pickford's representatives for comment.

It comes after last month when Davison sparked controversy after sharing another message in support of anti-vax protestors.

Megan Davison, who met Everton ace Pickford when they were teenagers, shared a photo from the so-called Freedom March that sparked chaotic scenes across central London on December 18.

The demonstration, declared a 'major incident' by London mayor Sadiq Khan, was attended by thousands of anti-vaxxers after further restrictions were put in place to slow the spread of new coronavirus variant Omicron.

Davison, 25, appeared to show a degree of empathy for the mob by sharing a photo of one protestor holding a placard emblazoned with the message: 'Even if you're not conspiracy minded, something in your soul has to say…something is wrong.'

The photo was posted without additional comment from the mother-of-one, and is no longer present on her Instagram account.

The girlfriend of Pickford's England teammate John Stones has also made her position regarding the vaccine clear over recent weeks.

Taking to Instagram in December, beautician Olivia Naylor wrote: 'Do not get a vaccine so you can travel because that ski trip means nothing and your human rights mean everything.

'Even if you are vaccinated, say no to proving it. It's a severe breach of human rights.'

Davison's post comes after Premier League football players were urged to get vaccinated following a surge in infections and a series of postponed matches prompted by the ongoing pandemic.

A fresh drive to persuade the 16 per cent of Premier League vaccine sceptics to get the jab will see new rules in 2022 to incentivise good practice, so that elite football is at least better prepared for when the next variant comes along to disrupt the programme.

With Liverpool versus Leeds, Wolves against Watford and Everton's trip to Burnley postponed on Sunday and fears further postponements will jeopardise this week's fixtures and the FA Cup third round, which could ultimately jeopardise the season, the Premier League are looking at rewarding early vaxxers who have completed their course of triple vaccination rather than punishing anti-vaxxers.

It's understood that among English Football League players, 25 per cent have proved unmoved by all the evidence which points to vaccine uptake being crucial to navigating a way through the pandemic and, by extension, vital to football's economic health.

English football's vaccine issues are an outlier in professional sport.

Italy's Serie A players are 98 per cent vaccinated, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica. The German Bundesliga have said 92 per cent of players are vaccinated and The Mail on Sunday understands that 92 per cent are fully vaccinated in Spain's La Liga.

MailOnline has contacted Jordan Pickford's representatives for further comment.