Spurs’ Dier given four-match ban

ERIC Dier has been banned for four matches after an independent panel ruled it was not his sole intention to protect his brother when he entered the stands after Tottenham’s FA Cup exit to Norwich and that his behaviour was “objectively threatening”.

The Cheltenham-born England international has also been fined £40,000 by the Football Association following a charge of misconduct, which resulted from the incident on March 4.

Dier, pictured, whose team had just lost a penalty shootout, saw his brother involved in an altercation with a fan and raced to his aid. There was no physical exchange and the matter was not pursued by the Metropolitan Police after a brief investigation.

The 26-year-old accepted the misconduct charge, but denied his behaviour was threatening and argued his intention was only to protect his brother Patrick.

The spectator involved told police in a statement that he was acting like “an idiot” and did not feel threatened.

However, the panel chose not to believe the statement, which was not released by police and had to be communicated to the process via Dier’s solicitor, instead deciding the fan was scared based on video footage.

The fan was shown racing towards an exit as Dier climbed the stands, while another piece of footage, which appears pivotal in the case, captured Dier going towards the fan rather than his brother.

The written reasons from the panel in the case read: “We are quite satisfied on the balance of probabilities, that Eric Diers’s conduct in (1) chasing the spectator through the well populated stand; (2) passing through supporters; (3) causing some to move out of his way; (4) over the distance; (5) for the time; and (6) in the manner he did, was objectively threatening.”

Dier said in a statement during the disciplinary process: “I instinctively jumped over the barrier and began climbing the rows of seats towards Patrick and the three men.

“All that was going through my mind was that I must protect Patrick. In hindsight I feel even more responsible for his safety.

“He had gone to the game to support me, and he had become upset by the personal abuse being yelled at me, and that had led him into this situation. At no point did I say or do anything in a threatening way.”

The punishment, which rules Dier out for all but one of Spurs’ remaining Premier League games this season, is sure to enrage 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.

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.