Punish the fan, not Dier

I HOPE the FA do not sanction Eric Dier for climbing into the crowd after Spurs’ penalty shootout defeat by Norwich City on Wednesday night to remonstrate with a fan who was reportedly shouting abuse at him and arguing with his younger brother.

I admire Dier for doing what he did. He stuck up for his brother, for a start. He did the right thing.

Yes, I know, if every player did it, there would be anarchy, but if fans are going to scream abuse at their own players, maybe just now and again they should expect there will be consequences. The problem here is not Dier. The problem is that we have allowed the culture of personal abuse that populates social media to run free at football grounds, indulged under the umbrella excuse that fans pay their money so they can do what they want.

The thing is, that’s a kind of anarchy, too. It’s a free-for-all.

I wonder how many of those who like to be seen bidding others to ‘be kind’ think nothing of screaming abuse at their own players from their seats.

I wonder if it occurs to them that they are bullies, too. Maybe some will say today’s players are too sensitive. That they should grin and bear it. Just like in the good old days when men were men.

I’m not buying that. It’s the easy thing to keep your mouth shut.

The brave thing is to stand up to the mob.

The man screaming at Dier was a coward just like the Arsenal fans who jeered and booed their own captain, Granit Xhaka, at the Emirates were cowards.

If you give it out, you deserve to get some back. So forget punishing Dier. Punish the so-called fan instead.