Jose Mourinho tight-lipped on Eric Dier's four-match ban with Tottenham unlikely to appeal against decision

Jose Mourinho has declined to comment on the four-match ban handed to Tottenham's Eric Dier for entering the stands to confront a supporter following the FA Cup defeat by Norwich City in March, suggesting the club are unlikely to appeal against the ruling.

England international Dier - who admitted improper conduct after being initially charged by the FA in April but denied that his actions were threatening as he claimed his sole intention was to protect his brother Patrick, who had become embroiled in a row with the fan - was hit with the suspension on Wednesday and fined £40,000 in addition to being warned about his future conduct by a four-person independent regulatory commission.

The versatile Dier now stands to miss the Premier League meeting with relegation-threatened Bournemouth on Thursday evening in addition to Sunday's north London derby clash with Arsenal and further matches against Newcastle and Leicester.

He will only be eligible to return for Tottenham's final top-flight fixture of the season against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on July 26.

Mourinho had previously stated that he did not expect Dier to be banned for the incident, pointing to the FA's decision not to suspend Matteo Guendouzi following his confrontation with Brighton striker Neal Maupay after Arsenal's defeat at Amex Stadium last month.

However, the Spurs boss remain tight-lipped on the outcome of the case during a virtual press conference held just hours after news of the ban emerged on Wednesday, apparently fearing punishment for himself if he were to speak out.

"No reaction. I prefer no reaction," Mourinho said, also confirming that he had yet to speak to Dier since the decision was made.

In Pictures | Tottenham vs Norwich City | 04/03/2020

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"I am not going to answer. If I answer I'm going to be in trouble and I don't want to be so I have no comments about that."

Tottenham have the option to appeal against the ban, although Mourinho suggested that is an unlikely course of action as he looks to avoid any additional risk of Dier being suspended for the start of next season.

"I don't think so, honestly," he said. "Because if you appeal, you have other risks so at least let's start next season without a suspension.

"We all know how it works with FA decisions. You have successful appeals and unsuccessful appeals. I don't think we're going to appeal."

Mourinho - who said Tottenham will cope in Dier's absence with the central defensive trio of Davinson Sanchez, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen - insisted he had already commented enough on the Dier episode and expressed regret over his previous remarks regarding Guendouzi.

"I spoke about both situations a few weeks ago," he added. "I spoke about Guendouzi and probably I shouldn't because he's not my player and probably I have no right to comment about others.

"In relation to Eric, I spoke enough, two years ago when the situation happened and also a couple of weeks ago when one of you asked me about the situation."

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