Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has defended Eric Dier after the Tottenham midfielder climbed into the stands to confront a fan following his side’s FA Cup defeat to Norwich.
Police are understood to be probing the incident which saw Dier approach a supporter who was allegedly arguing with his brother.
Cops are also investigating abuse aimed at Jesse Lingard following Manchester United’s fifth-round victory at Derby on Thursday.
Lampard believes top footballers deserve “a lot of credit” for ignoring abuse from fans, and is sympathetic to the situations of players who face personal attacks or whose families are affected.
“I didn’t see Lingard, but I thought it was a pretty natural reaction from Eric Dier,” said the Chelsea manager.
“I think if you asked the man or woman in the street, if one of your family members needed protection, your natural reaction would be to go there.
“Because we are in the sport that we are in, I thought Jose Mourinho said it pretty well afterwards, you are not supposed to, not allowed to as such.
“But when you talk about natural reactions, I understand it, particularly with a family member.
“I didn’t see anything go beyond slightly heated, which is a good thing, so we will see how it is dealt with.
(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
“But I think it should be understood that if Eric Dier saw his brother in a situation, then I understand his thought process.”
Asked if abuse towards players in football is increasing, Lampard continued: “In the stadiums? No. I think it’s what it was. I took some abuse over the years, I have seen team-mates take abuse.
“I know some of my family members and friends that have been in earshot of abuse, so I don’t think it has changed.
“I think players should be given a lot of credit sometimes that they hold themselves in certain moments.”
(Image: REUTERS)
With efforts to stamp out racism and homophobia increasingly in the limelight, Lampard said other forms of abuse must not be ignored.
“We talk about certain types of hate in the game and we analyse them, and then other types of hate seemingly are okay to say something to you or about your family,” said the 41-year-old.
“I have heard all of that and sometimes you don’t pick up on it and it’s all okay because of the pantomime nature of football.
“You walk into the stadium and you don’t live by the same rules you would live by in the street. I think that has not changed.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Lampard also said some fans are spending entire games posting their views on social media rather than watching the action.
“Maybe social media has made it worse around, day to day, minute to minute, off the pitch,” he said.
“Some people sit and watch a game at home and spend 89 minutes of the 90 tweeting, or posting their thoughts on the game rather than watching it. It is unfortunate.”
