Eric Dier rose to the crowd at Tottenham Stadium after his FA Cup loss to Norwich to face an angry fan.
Numerous photos and videos circulated on social media showing Dier climbing into the west gallery to go to a section of supporters, with security forced to intervene.
According to Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, Dier’s reaction was angry because he had spotted a rowing supporter with his brother and decided to intervene.
Mourinho condemned his player’s actions, but said he understood why he did it and urged the club and the Football Association not to punish the 26-year-old.
Mourinho said: “I think Eric Dier has done something that we professionals cannot do, but in these circumstances, each of us would do it.
“Because when someone insults you, and your family is there, and you get involved with the person who insults you, in this case a younger brother, I think Eric did what we, the professionals, can’t do.
“But I repeat, all of us would probably do it. I repeat, we professionals, we cannot do it, but I repeat that I am with the player and I understand the player
“This person insulted Eric, his family was there. The younger brother was not happy with the situation and then Eric, I repeat (he) did what we, the professionals, cannot do, but did something that we would probably do
“If the club does this (discipline), I won’t agree, but it did it wrong.”
The incident occurred in the area behind the canoes, which is a corporate section, and Mourinho criticized him for not hosting “true Tottenham fans”.
“The people who occupy these privileged positions near the tunnel,” he added.
“Sure, some are Tottenham fans but I think a lot of companies, a lot of invitations, a lot of people with special status and this is probably the stadium location where I sometimes have doubts find out if they are the true fans of Tottenham because these (the true fans) are those who support the boys until the last. ”
The unsavory clash came after Tottenham missed his best chance at winning silverware this season.
The FA Cup fifth round match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes of play after Jan Vertonghen’s header was canceled by Josip Drmic, who had taken advantage of a fatal error by Spurs goalkeeper Michel Vorm – playing his first game in 18 months.
And Norwich won on penalties, with Tim Krul the hero – rescued from Troy Parrott and Gedson Fernandes – to book his team the first FA Cup quarter-final since 1992.
Daniel Farke’s men will now face Derby or Manchester United in a welcome distraction from their relegation fight.