TOTTENHAM star Eric Dier has been banned for four games and fined £40,000 for jumping into the stands to confront a fan.
The unsavoury incident happened at the start of March following Spurs’ FA Cup loss at home to Norwich.
Eric Dier was fuming with one fan after Spurs lost to Norwich
The Spurs star was then involved in a furious confrontation with one fanCredit: PA:Empics Sport
The England man has now been punished for his actions, four months later.
It means Dier, who has been playing centre-half recently under Jose Mourinho, will miss the North London derby against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
He could return for the final game of the season against Crystal Palace.
An FA statement read: “Eric Dier has been suspended for four matches with immediate effect, fined £40,000 and warned as to his future conduct following a breach of FA Rule E3.
Eric Dier was believed to have been sticking up for his brotherCredit: Rex Features
The Spurs utility player was escorted from the scene by securityCredit: https://twitter.com/jselby123/status/1235332143028502532
“The Tottenham Hotspur FC player admitted that his actions at the conclusion of a fixture against Norwich City FC in The FA Cup on 04 March 2020 were improper but denied that they were also threatening.
“An independent Regulatory Commission subsequently found Eric Dier’s actions to be threatening.”
His Spurs boss Mourinho refused to comment on the punishment handed out to his player.
Speaking ahead of their clash against Bournemouth, ‘The Special One’ said: “I’m not going to answer.
“If I answer I am going to be in trouble and I don’t want to be, so I have no comments about that.”
Dier was said to have been protecting his younger brother, who’d got himself into a spat with a fellow supporter.
At the time of the bizarre clash, a source revealed one fan had been screaming “horrendous” abuse in the direction of Dier.
DEFENDING HIS BROTHER
His younger brother, Patrick – who was sat nearby – then tried to calm the man down.
It is believed the pair got into a heated exchange and the Three Lions star jumped into the stands to protect his sibling.
Numerous videos showed Dier leaving the pitch and then climbing 20 ROWS to make his way towards a section of supporters inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
After the game, Tottenham boss Mourinho revealed as a professional Dier should not have done what he did.
But the Special One went on to say he is only human and he was acting in a way most would protecting his loved ones.
Mourinho claimed: “I think Eric did what we professionals cannot do but probably every one of us would do.
“I repeat we professionals cannot do it, but I repeat I am with the player and I understand the player.
“The fans were with the team until the last penalty kick that we missed.
“This person insulted Eric, the family was there, the younger brother was not happy with the situation.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
