On Wednesday night we were knocked out of the FA Cup by Norwich City. It was a disappointing night full of frustration for the home crowd where the Spurs side once again limped through the game. Yes there are a lot of reasons it seems that our squad are all over the place. Key players injured, no striker signed in January etc etc we have heard the reasons every press conference for weeks.
What I am actually going to talk about here is what happened after the penalty shoot out defeat. An incident involving Eric Dier.
So what happened? The game has ended and Eric Dier, having scored his penalty and then gone to literally pick up those who missed to help them from the field, is heading off to the dressing rooms and looks to his family. What he see’s is his younger brother involved in pushing and shoving with a fan and then, like any big brother, he charged in to make sure his brother was safe.
The video’s and pictures of Dier charging into the stand and stepping over rows of seats to get to the fan in question went viral within minutes and admin MC of this group was in the stand and saw it first hand but like most at the time had no idea what was going on / what had happened.
What has been released in the press since is that a fan was hurling nasty and quite personal abuse at Eric Dier while standing right next to the players family. His younger brother was obviously upset by this and said something and an altercation ensued. An altercation that would be seen by Eric and why we saw the reaction we did.
Firstly, as an older brother, I 100% understand and I completely support what he did. I do however understand that as a professional there are certain things you can and cannot do and this is something we should not see.
BUT something else I think we should not see and I hope this incident can shine a lot on is the abuse that fans believe they are entitled to shout at players before, during and after a game.
What is it that gives people the right to do that? I do not get it. Mob mentality? A lack of intelligence or perhaps dropped as a child? I have shouted in exasperation, I have booed, I have yelled all sort but never once in my life at a game have I screamed abuse an individual calling him names no matter what team he plays for and ESPECIALLY not a member of my own team!
Is that support from a supporter? I hear the argument; “we pay our money to watch and we have the right to shout what we want…” well if you think that you are wrong. You pay money to go into a restaurant and eat but if you shout that amount of abuse at a waiter guess what… your ass is kicked out.
I know nothing will happen to address it and I know Eric Dier will likely end up with quite a punishment over it and the fan who abused him will be told “don’t say naughty things again” and be allowed back to sit where he wants and continue to behave like an idiot but for me the club have an opportunity here, to make a point to the fans at the stadium.
If you are going to behave like that and scream vile abuse at people you are not welcome. I know I would welcome stewards spending less time telling us to sit down and more time telling idiots to shut up.
-SJ
