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Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero could face a longer suspension after being charged by the Football Association for his conduct following his red card against Liverpool last weekend.
The Argentina defender was sent off during Spurs’ 2-1 defeat after receiving a second yellow card for kicking out at Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate. Referee John Brooks ordered Romero from the pitch in the closing stages of the match, leaving Tottenham with nine players after Xavi Simons had already been dismissed earlier for serious foul play.
Romero had initially been booked for dissent after protesting what he believed was a push from Hugo Ekitike in the build-up to Liverpool’s second goal. His subsequent dismissal carries an automatic one-match ban, ruling him out of Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace, but further punishment could follow.
The FA alleges that Romero failed to leave the pitch promptly and behaved in an aggressive or confrontational manner towards the referee after being sent off in the 93rd minute. If found guilty, the charge could result in an extended suspension, with Romero given until January 2 to submit his response.
Tottenham’s upcoming schedule includes trips to Brentford on New Year’s Day and Bournemouth on January 7, as well as a home fixture against Sunderland on January 4, matches that Romero could miss should the ban be increased.
Spurs head coach Thomas Frank criticised referee Brooks following the match, arguing that the official failed to spot a foul by Ekitike in the build-up to Liverpool’s second goal. Frank claimed the initial decision directly contributed to Romero’s first booking and suggested the situation could have been avoided.
The Danish manager defended his captain’s temperament, describing him as an extremely passionate player who sometimes operates close to the limit. Frank also expressed frustration that VAR did not intervene, insisting that officiating errors played a significant role in the outcome.
The defeat left Tottenham languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and intensified scrutiny on Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in June and is already under mounting pressure.
