Arsenal and Sp*rs fined for December melee

The FA have fined Arsenal and Sp*rs £45,000 and £50,000 respectively for failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during this month’s Premier League encounter at the Emirates.

The north London derby, which we won 4-2, boiled over on the touchline following Eric Dier’s first half equaliser and subsequent celebration in front of the home fans.

Neither side contested the charge, which played into their favour when it came to a decision on how much to fine them.

The report makes for a humorous read; here’s a snippet of their take on things.

Having considered all the evidence and reviewed the incident from numerous angles the view of the Commission was that both clubs were equally to blame for the events that occurred. With regards to Arsenal Mr Lichtsteiner’s intervention prompted the confrontation, it is likely that the Tottenham players would have returned to their half after celebrating the goal if he had not stepped on to the pitch. However his actions could in no way be deemed aggressive and did not warrant the reaction from the Tottenham players and Sissoko in particular. A number of Arsenal players were then involved in the incident and Ramsey and Guendouzi acted aggressively.

As regards Tottenham Hotspur Mr Dier’s goal celebration was provocative. In his witness statement Dier stated that he had been jeered and the subject of abuse by Arsenal fans and the finger on the lips “hush” gesture to them was presumably in response to this. It was, nevertheless, likely to incite the crowd in a match of this nature and was ill advised. There was, however, no excuse for Mr Lichtsteiner to get involved, it should have been left in the hands of the Referee to determine if Dier’s reaction was inappropriate and to then take any action he deemed necessary.

In addition to Dier, Tottenham Hotspur player Sissoko leaves the pitch and confronts Lichtsteiner which led to the incident escalating and further players getting involved and Alli becomes involved in an act in an aggressive encounter with Ramsey and Guendouzi.

Earlier this week a Sp*rs fan was fined £500 and banned from football for four years for throwing a banana skin at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the same game. The judge ruled that the incident was racially motivated. 

Unfortunately, last night’s match between the two teams in the Carabao Cup also drew headlines for the behaviour of the crowd after an imbecile in the east stand of the Emirates hit Deli Alli with a bottle. A statement from an ’embarrassed’ Arsenal confirmed that they are working hard to identify the perpetrator.