Romero’s Red Card Sparks Debate Over Referee’s Performance

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has expressed his disappointment with the referee’s performance in their 2-1 Premier League loss to Liverpool. Frank believes that Cristian Romero would not have been sent off if the referee, John Brooks, had done his job properly.
The Argentine defender was given his marching orders in the second half for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate, but Frank feels that the first yellow card Romero received for dissent was a result of a mistake by Brooks. Frank pointed out that Hugo Ekitike had pushed Romero in the back as he headed in the second goal, but the referee failed to notice.
“I don’t understand how he didn’t see it,” Frank said. “Luckily we have VAR so they will bail you out when you need it, which they didn’t. That was the second mistake.”
Frank also suggested that if the referee had done his job, Romero’s first yellow card would not have been given. “I think if you go back to that [second Liverpool goal] and the referee did his job, then I think it would not have been a first yellow [for Romero]. Is that fair to say?”
The incident has sparked debate over Romero’s suitability as the club’s captain, given his chequered disciplinary record. In 114 Premier League appearances, Romero has collected 34 yellow cards and three red cards.
Former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp was also critical of Romero’s behavior, saying that he “can’t do that” and that it’s “ridiculous” for a player to kick out at someone in front of the referee.
Xavi Simons, who was also sent off in the first half for a foul on Virgil van Dijk, apologized for his earlier attempted tackle on his Netherlands captain. Simons wrote on Instagram that “mistakes happen” and that he would never intentionally hurt Van Dijk or anyone else.
The defeat leaves Tottenham 13th in the table and Frank’s side with 11 home league defeats in 2025, their most in a calendar year. The result has placed further scrutiny over Frank’s reign as manager.

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Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given agreed with the referee’s decision, saying that “I think John Brooks has got it right.” However, Frank and other pundits have questioned the referee’s performance, suggesting that he made a mistake in not giving Ekitike a yellow card for pushing Romero in the back.
The defeat has also raised questions over Romero’s suitability as the club’s captain, given his disciplinary record. Frank has defended Romero, saying that he is a passionate player who needs to be managed, but others have criticized his behavior as “wild” and “ridiculous.”

Next Steps

Tottenham

will look to bounce back from the defeat in their next match, but the result has placed further pressure on Frank’s side. The club will need to regroup and refocus if they are to climb the table and challenge for a top-four spot.

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