Eric Dier runs to the stands to attack a fan

A provocative question, but one that reflects two visually very similar situations. At the end of the match played on New White Hart Lane and lost by Tottenham on penalties against Tim Krul's Norwich, Spurs midfielder Eric Dier passed the LEDs that separate the grass from the stands, climbed the rows and violently thrown against a fan. According to reports from the main English sources, Dier was targeted by a fan who insulted him throughout the game. Nearby was the younger brother of the Tottenham player, who tried several times to calm the man. The attempt did not end very well and the two quarreled. Dier, according to Mourinho's words at the press conference, therefore only tried to defend his brother.

"Physical altercation" according to the words of The Guardian, who collected all the videos in which the Spurs midfielder is filmed while reaching the accused fan. Other sources, however, claim that the man pronounced several racist insults directed at Gedson Fernandes immediately after the error from the disk. As mentioned, however, the Special One denies the hypothesis of an episode of racism, siding with the player and reiterating the intention to protect his brother. There have been many players who lose their mind in the history of sport, but the Dier case brought to mind two famous episodes.

Kung-fu Cantona | January 25, 1995

Staying in England, Éric Cantona back in 1995 lost his temper during a match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace. The scenario is Selhurst Park, an important game for the Premier balance. At the start of the second half Richard Shaw holds Cantona. The Frenchman reacts, kicking Shaw and forcing Alan Wilkie to pull out the red card. The forward is flooded with whistles from all over the stadium, but Matthew Simmons catches Éric's attention by being in the front row. The anger results in a kung-fu-style kick against the fan, which will cost Cantona 9 months of disqualification. No behind-front for the Frenchman who, on the contrary, releases to the press a phrase that has become one of his ideological posters par excellence:

When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.

Malice at the Palace | November 19, 2004

There are those who call it "The Brawl", there are those who call it "Malice at the Palace", there are those who like the AP described it as "the worst fight in NBA history" and there is who defines it one of the most negative pages in the history of American sport. Moreover, considering the characters involved, it could not be otherwise. The climb on the stands of the New White Heat Lane immediately recalled what 16 years ago Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, The Panda's Friend did or as you prefer to call it. The stage is that of the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, MI. 45.9 seconds to play to close the race, widely won by the Indiana Pacers. Artest, however, still decides to stop "wallet" Ben Wallace, who in turn pushes him. The Pacers player, already known for his mental instability, responds by putting his hands in Wallace's face and from there he starts a fight with blows that ends only about thirty seconds later. The matter seems to be closed there, with Artest and Wallace being divided and with the Pacers guard sarcastically spreading out on the billboards. At that precise moment, a plastic cup full of Coca Cola arrives from the stands and ends up on Ron's chest. From there, the underworld: Artest, On'Neal and Jackson invade the stands and attack the fans - John Green, Michael Ryan, William Paulson, Alvin Shackleford and Charlie Haddad - who try to defend themselves by pulling everything against them. The fight ends with an image of Artest's shirt completely slapped.

Eric Dier did not reach the point of anger released by Cantona, he did not even come close to the brawl of the Palace of Auburn Hills and even less to the ferocity with which Ron Artest attacked those who had thrown him a glass. But the immediate memories that came out are exactly these two.