Arsenal and Tottenham fined over derby melee

Arsenal and Tottenham have been fined £45,000 and £50,000 respectively by the Football Association (FA) after admitting charges of failing to control their players in the north London Derby on December 2.

The charges related to the scuffle that broke out on in the 32nd minute of the Gunners’ 4-2 Premier League win, when Spurs’ Eric Dier celebrated an equaliser for 1-1 at Emirates Stadium by running in front of the home fans and gesturing for them to ‘shush’.

The celebrations continued in close proximity to the area of the touchline used for warm-ups by Arsenal substitutes, some of whom took exception. The ensuing melee saw technical staff, including Mauricio Pochettino, leave the dugout.

Tottenham were handed a greater sanction due to having four previous breaches of the rule in the past five years, while Arsenal only had two.

Both clubs had their fines reduced after admitting they failed “to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion”.

The penalties were handed down one day after Tottenham claimed a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

Dele Alli was hit by a bottle thrown from the stands in the 73rd minute of Wednesday’s match and responded with a “2-0” gesture. 

Neither Alli or the Gunners are expected to face sanctions over the incident, while Arsenal have identified the suspect and are working with the Metropolitan Police to apprehend them.