Everton star Ashley Williams tries to play down his role in ugly brawl during Lyon defeat: 'These things happen'

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Ashley Williams has attempted to play down his part in a mass brawl between Lyon and Everton players, which was sparked when he appeared to shove opposing goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Williams, who wore the captain's armband in Phil Jagielka's absence on the night, instigated the confrontation when he shoved the Lyon star towards advertising hoardings while he was mid-flight trying to catch the ball. 

With pictures from the game and television footage clearly showing his key role in the incident, he is likely to face retrospective action from UEFA and made little attempt to justify his actions after the match. 

Ashley Williams appeared to attack Lyon star Lucas Tousart as he wildly swung his arms

The brawl was sparked when Williams pushed Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes over mid-flight

He told BT Sport: ‘It's football. It is what it is. We want to win and so do they. These things happen.

‘The pressure you put on yourself is bigger than anything outside. We want to show fight for ourselves, the club and fans.'

To make the referee's failure to send him off perfectly clear, the Wales international went onto score an equalising goal just minutes after the brawl, although Lyon eventually claimed the win via a Bertrand Traore strike.

A lengthy ban for Williams will put further paid to their chances of making it out of the Europa League group stages as they currently sit rock bottom of their group with just one point after three games.

But Toffees captain Williams was not done there. He fronted up to Lucas Tousart (second left)

After the match, Williams played down his fight, saying: 'It is what it is. It's just what happens'

Failing in the Premier League as well, Jermaine Jenas believes the pressure simply boiled over for Williams, who has also had to cope with missing out on a World Cup place with Wales in recent weeks. 

Speaking to BT Sport after the match, Jenas said: ‘The last couple of weeks will probably go down as the toughest weeks of his career. Getting knocked out (of the World Cup) with Wales in the way that they did, a lot of that fell on his shoulders in terms of the way they went out. 

'(He is) captain tonight and the pressure that Everton are going through, it seemed to me like that all came together and he lost control in one specific moment.’ 

Williams was lucky to stay on the pitch and he took advantage by scoring to make it 1-1