Eric Dier banned for FOUR matches and fined £40,000 after jumping into crowd to confront fan

Eric Dier banned for FOUR matches and fined £40,000 after jumping into crowd to confront fan following Tottenham’s FA Cup shootout defeat by Norwich in March… meaning he will MISS Sunday’s North London Derby against Arsenal

  • Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier jumped into the stands to confront a fan in March
  • The England international claimed it was to protect his brother from an angry fan
  • The FA have banned Dier, 26, for four matches and fined him a total of £40,000
  • Dier admitted his actions were ‘improper’ but denied they were also ‘threatening’
  • It is a blow for Jose Mourinho, who will now be without Dier for all but one of his side’s remaining Premier League matches this season 

Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier has been banned for four matches and fined £40,000 for jumping into the crowd to confront a fan in March. 

England international Dier claimed he had left the pitch and entered the stands, clambering over rows of seats, in an attempt to protect his brother who he noticed had become involved in an argument with an angry fan.

Dier, 26, admitted his actions were ‘improper’ but denied that they were also ‘threatening’ – the incident happened at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 4 after they had been beaten on penalties by Norwich in the FA Cup fifth round.

Eric Dier has been hit with a four-game ban and fined £40,000 for jumping into the stands

Eric Dier has been hit with a four-game ban and fined £40,000 for jumping into the stands

Tottenham's Dier climbed into the crowd to angrily confront a fan after the loss to Norwich

Tottenham’s Dier climbed into the crowd to angrily confront a fan after the loss to Norwich

The England international has been sanctioned by the Football Association on a charge of misconduct for the incident, and will now miss all but one of Tottenham’s remaining Premier League games. 

There was no physical exchange and the matter was not pursued by the Metropolitan Police after a brief investigation.

However, the FA has opted to punish Dier for a breach of rule E3, and Dier has also been warned about his future conduct. 

‘An independent Regulatory Commission subsequently found Eric Dier’s actions to be threatening,’ the FA concluded in a statement. 

He will now be out of action for Spurs’ games against Bournemouth, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Leicester and available again for the final-day trip to Crystal Palace. 

Dier (centre) says he was defending his brother Patrick (far left, pictured on a 2018 holiday)

Dier (centre) says he was defending his brother Patrick (far left, pictured on a 2018 holiday) 

Dier is seen pointing at the fan before trying to make his way towards him after the game

Dier is seen pointing at the fan before trying to make his way towards him after the game

The fan involved at the centre of the incident was videoed running away from Dier

The fan involved at the centre of the incident was videoed running away from Dier

The punishment is sure to enrage boss Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho, who has defended his player on the matter from the off.

He recently said that he did not expect Dier to receive any punishment after the FA chose not to sanction Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi for grabbing Brighton striker Neal Maupay around the neck.

The former Manchester United manager cited Guendouzi’s recent incident to further address his frustration with the situation. 

Arsenal midfielder Matteo Gunedouzi escaped a ban after grabbing Neal Maupay by the throat

Arsenal midfielder Matteo Gunedouzi escaped a ban after grabbing Neal Maupay by the throat

‘I think they made a decision when Guendouzi grabbed the other guy by his neck,’ Mourinho argued. ‘The decision was made in that moment.’

Just after the incident on the night, Mourinho said: ‘This person insulted Eric, the family was there, the young brother was not happy with the situation then Eric did what we professionals cannot do but we probably would do. 

‘When somebody insults you and your family is there and they get involved with the person insulting him I think Eric Dier did what we professionals cannot do but probably what everyone of us would do.

Dier was held back by security as he looked to get to the fan that had left him incensed

The midfielder was guided away from the crowd having climbed into the stand at the end of the game

Dier was held back by club security as he looked to get to the fan that had left him incensed

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho will be enraged by losing Dier at the end of the season

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho will be enraged by losing Dier at the end of the season

‘The supporters that are in this privileged position, in this area of the tunnel, of course some are Tottenham fans but also a lot of corporate [fans], invitations and people with special status. 

‘It is probably the place in the stadium I sometimes have doubts if they are real Tottenham fans because these ones were the ones who supported the boys.’ 

Dier’s absence will be a blow for Spurs in their pursuit of European football next season as he has been an impressive performer in central defence since the season restarted last month. 

source: dailymail.co.uk