London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham have been charged by The FA for failing to control their players after a mass brawl following Eric Dier’s equaliser in the first half of Sunday’s derby.
The England midfielder headed home in the 30th minute to cancel out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s early penalty which opened the scoring at the Emirates.
Dier ran to the corner in front of the Arsenal fans with his fingers pressed to his lips, a celebration Gunners substitutes took issue with as first Stephan Lichtsteiner, before Matteo Guendouzi and Aaron Ramsey were involved at the heart of a tussle with Tottenham players, Dele Alli the most enraged.
An FA statement read: “Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been charged following their game yesterday [02/12/18]. It is alleged that in the 32nd minute, they failed to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.”
The melee prompted Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff to run down the touchline and look to break the situation up.
After the game the Argentine said: “At 1-1, it was a massive fight there but I didn't know what was going on in that moment. And in the moment that I arrived, it was all relaxed, calm. I didn't know what happened but sometimes these situations happened. My intention was always to put calm.”
Arsenal boss Unai Emery added: “It is the moment on the pitch the players are with very big emotions and also with the heart very firing a lot. We need also to be calm.”
Both clubs have until 6pm on December 6 to respond to the charge.
