• Blackburn and Everton players both booked for confrontation
• ‘He can keep his hands away from my face,’ says Norwegian

The Blackburn midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen was astonished Mikel Arteta was not sent off after their clash during Everton’s 3-2 win at Ewood Park on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Norway international appeared to be poked in the eye by the Spaniard after an angry exchange between the players. Both were booked by the referee, Andre Marriner, but Pedersen was surprised to be handed the same punishment as Arteta.

He told Blackburn Rovers TV: “If he got a yellow, I don’t know why I got a yellow. I was just standing still. If I should have a yellow, then maybe he should have something else. But that’s up to the referee.

“It’s a challenge between me and Arteta and he got really angry. I was just standing still and he came into my face. It’s OK people shouting at each other – that’s part of football – but he can keep his hands away from my face.

“When he poked me in the eye, it’s not like you have to throw yourself on the floor because you are going to show he has hit you. He poked me in the eye, but there is nothing I can do now.”

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• Blackburn say snowfall around Ewood Park was ‘relatively light’
• Man City v Liverpool and Wigan v Tottenham also go ahead

All of today’s Premier League games are set to go ahead despite adverse weather conditions in Lancashire and Manchester. Overnight snowfall in the north-west had cast doubt over Blackburn v Bolton, Manchester City v Liverpool and Wigan v Tottenham, but all three home clubs released statements this morning confirming that the matches would not be postponed.

Blackburn’s statement said that the snowfall near Ewood Park had been “relatively light” ahead of their midday derby, while City reported that “traffic is moving freely around the City of Manchester Stadium”.

“The approaches immediately to the ground itself for those on foot are clear,” continued the City statement. “There is no problem with the playing surface and the game goes ahead at 3pm as scheduled. If you are coming to the game, the weather is set to remain cold and wet throughout the day, so please wear lots of layers and stay warm.”

Wigan, meanwhile, said: “The DW Stadium pitch undersoil heating has been functioning throughout the week, while snow ploughs and gritters have made the main access roads into the stadium passable. The club are warning, however, that it may be forced into some car park closures, depending on conditions later today.

“Supporters are being reminded that conditions remain potentially hazardous and roads throughout the region continue to be affected by the adverse weather.”

However, today’s racing at Sedgefield, Southwell and Naas has fallen foul to the weather while there will be inspections at Carlisle and Market Rasen to determine whether tomorrow’s meetings can go ahead.

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• No Stoke supporters involved
• Twenty-five year-old arrested

A man injured during yesterday’s Premier League match at Stoke City has died in hospital.

The 30-year-old fan is thought to have been hit on the head with a bin. He was found unconscious and taken to hospital where he died in the small hours of Sunday morning.

The incident occurred in the Blackburn Rovers section of the ground and police say no Stoke supporters were involved.

“The circumstances are being fully investigated,” said a police spokesman. “A 25-year-old man remains in custody and is helping police with their inquiries.”

The man was found by police just after 4pm on Saturday in the Britannia Stadium’s south stand which housed Blackburn fans.

Police said the man was treated at the scene for a head injury and cardiac arrest.

Chief Inspector Adrian Roberts, match commander at the game, said there were just over 1,300 Blackburn fans at the game, which Stoke won 3-0.

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