Jose Mourinho condemns Eric Dier incident after Spurs beaten by Norwich City

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has condemned Eric Dier following his altercation with a supporter after Spurs’ FA Cup exit to Norwich.

Tottenham’s Eric Dier in the stands following his side’s FA Cup defeat to Norwich. Picture: Getty Images

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has condemned his midfielder Eric Dier following his altercation with a supporter in the stands after Spurs’ FA Cup exit to Norwich, but understands why he did it.

In the aftermath of the penalty shootout defeat to the Canaries, Dier climbed into the lower tier of the West Stand and confronted a fan, who is alleged to have been arguing with his brother.

Footage has gone viral on social media and England international Dier is set to come under investigation from the Football Association.

“I think Eric Dier did something that we professionals cannot do but in these circumstances every one of us would do,” said Mourinho.

“Because when somebody insults you, and your family is there, and you get involved with the person that is insulting you, in this case a younger brother, I think Eric did what we professionals cannot do.

“This person insulted Eric, his family was there. The young brother was not happy with the situation and then Eric, I repeat (he) did what we professionals cannot do, but did something that probably we would do.”

The incident happened in the area behind the dugouts, which is a corporate section, and Mourinho criticised it for not housing “real Tottenham fans”.

“The people that are in these privileged positions by the tunnel,” he added. “Of course some are Tottenham fans but I think a lot of corporate, a lot of invitation, a lot of people with special status and probably it’s the place of the stadium where I sometimes have doubts over if they are the real Tottenham fans because these are the ones who support the boys until the last.”

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It was an unsavoury end to a disappointing night as Spurs’ season was plunged into more despair.

The FA Cup was their only real chance of silverware remaining with their Premier League top-four hopes stuttering and their Champions League chances hanging in the balance.

The game ended 1-1 after 120 minutes as Jan Vertonghen’s early opener was cancelled out by Josip Drmic’s leveller, which came after a howler by Tottenham keeper Michel Vorm.

Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul was the hero after denying Troy Parrott and Gedson Fernandes in the shootout.

Dier was seen consoling Fernandes on the pitch before his incident with the fan in the stands.

PA