An Everton fan was told to strip off his blue polo shirt by a Croatian gang amid reports of fans being targeted in Split.

The Blues are set to play their return match of their Europa League tie with Hadjuk Split tomorrow night.

Violent scenes among the Croatian fans at Goodison Park during the first leg have led to warnings for travelling Everton supporters to be alert to trouble.

And already unconfirmed reports of incidents have been made.

A 55-year-old Blues fan from Wavertree , who did not want to be named, said he was surrounded by four men this afternoon, who had spotted he was wearing a blue Everton polo shirt.

He added: “I was just walking in the street when suddenly there were four big blokes all around me.

“One of them said, “give us your T-shirt,”, and then leaned in further to me, and growled more threateningly, “Give us your T-shirt.

“ I was standing there with nothing on my torso. I had to go and buy something.

“It was pretty intimidating, and it shook me up.”

(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

The fan said he was even considering not going to the match at all adding:“We’ve been told we’ve got to make our own way from the city centre to the stadium, which takes about 20 minutes.

“We’re sitting ducks for anything to kick off.

“You just don’t expect it - in the first leg at Goodison we took them out and socialised with them.”

He also claimed he had spoken to a group of Everton fans in their mid-20s who were attacked as they got into a taxi to go for a drink in the Marina area of Split.

He said one of them was smashed in the face with a bottle, leaving him with a cut on his forehead.

Everton officials are unaware of any flashpoints so far in the city - but the club had issued advice for fans travelling to Split.

Supporters were told “not to wear club colours in or around Split before or after the match or “display any banners or flags at bars, restaurants or public areas during their time in Croatia”. They were also warned: “The club has also been informed that any anti-social behaviour is likely to be dealt with robustly by local police, with supporters facing arrest and on-the-spot fines for offensive behaviour.”

Flyers with a list of dos and don’ts were also handed out to Blues fans today by Split police as they arrived at the city’s airport.

During the match at Goodison Park referee Ivan Kruzliak was forced to stop the game as police and stewards battled to calm the visiting fans who attempted to get on to the pitch and into the home end, throwing bottles and chairs towards the opposing fans.