Wigan Athletic players have been praised for offering to refund the cost to away fans who saw their 9-1 trouncing at Tottenham.

While the estimated £10,000 payout works out as less than a week's wages for many of the players, it is a gesture of empathy in a sport often accused of losing touch with the people. The seats at White Hart Lane were priced at £27.40 for adults, with discounts for over-65s and under-16s. Wigan had about 400 people in the away end.

Michael Brunskill, a spokesman for the Football Supporters' Federation, praised the move.

He told The Times: "It's not something you could demand from clubs or write into the contracts of players but it's a nice gesture. Fair play to Wigan. Fans often worry about how much money's going round football. Players earn so much that anything that helps them relate to fans is welcome. It's an admirable effort - maybe the players should have tried as hard during the game."