Ex-Premier League referee: Tottenham face showdown talks as long-term ‘ban’ readied
Keith Hackett has insisted Tottenham must hold crunch talks with their security contractors after a fan was allowed close enough to kick out at Arsenal shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale on Sunday (15 January).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted the supporter will be arrested and banned for “a long time” in the coming days.
As seen in footage from the Sky Sports Premier League Twitter account (15 January), Ramsdale was kicked by a Spurs fan as he went to collect his water bottle following the full-time whistle in Arsenal’s 2-0 derby win.
Sources told this site on Monday (16 January) that Tottenham are likely to issue a lifetime ban to the supporter after releasing a statement on Sunday night to reveal how they were “appalled” by the fan’s behaviour.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police said that they were investigating reports of an assault on an Arsenal player but had yet to make an arrest.
The Professional Footballers’ Association promptly issued a statement post-match, insisting violence against players is happening “far too often” and claiming they will treat the incident as a “priority issue”.
Tottenham’s state-of-the-art new stadium opened in April 2019 and also hosts concerts, boxing events, NFL matches, and other sporting showpieces.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “The clubs have a responsibility to control their fans.
“We saw last year with Nottingham Forest, fans coming onto the pitch. The outcome of that was a criminal charge for Oli McBurnie, which he, fortunately, beat in court.
“I applaud Spurs for the prompt action they took. They made a club statement straight away.
“They employ security staff, who are trained. I think what they’ll do is tighten up.
“They’ll sit down for meetings with the people who supply the security, and tell them that they’ve been let down.
“I just wonder whether what the fan did was as instinctive as it looked. It could have easily been premeditated.
“It’s going to be relatively easy to find that guy. They’ll use the CCTV, they’ll have his information and payment cards.
“I expect him to be arrested in the next couple of days, and he’ll be banned for a long time.”
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