Football fans seem to think it’s their right to abuse the players on the pitch, both from their own team and the opposition.

The players have developed pretty thick skins as a result, but last night’s FA Cup fifth-round match between Spurs and Norwich saw midfielder Eric Dier completely lose his cool.

Spurs lost on penalties after extra-time ended with the score 1-1, which wouldn’t have helped Dier’s mood, but that doesn’t excuse what happened next.

Dier climbed the advertising hoarding and was involved in an ugly altercation with a Spurs fan, who is said to have had an argument with Dier’s younger brother, after the fan had insulted the on-pitch performance.

People have cited Eric Cantona’s infamous kung-fu kick back in 1995, and Neymar’s punching of a fan last year, as similar incidents.

Let’s start with this video:

Here’s another angle:

In this video, you can see additional footage of the incident, as well as Spurs manager Jose Mourinho’s comments in the press conference following the match:

Dier will face a charge from the FA, and could face a lengthy spell on the sideline.

Over to the Guardian:

Dier was eventually escorted back to the changing room… [and] was reported to still be in the changing room more than an hour after the incident, with Mourinho refusing to comment on rumours the fan had been racially abusing [Spurs player Gedson] Fernandes after his missed penalty.

“I cannot say. I don’t know,” he said. “I just know the reaction of Eric was based on his brother, didn’t like what was happening there but I cannot go in the direction of these details.”

It remains unclear how Dier was informed of the disagreement involving his brother having just taken part in the match, although the Football Association is likely to take a dim view of his actions.

Those with the knives out for Mourinho may say he’s losing control of his players, and question what is going on behind the scenes as Spurs’ season continues to falter.

Dier must bear the brunt of responsibility, though, because the life of a professional footballer sadly involves dealing with a great deal of abuse.

[source:guardian]