Tottenham captain Cristian Romero was slammed for his red card at Man Utd which “let his team down”.
Romero had made headlines earlier this week after a social media post in which he used the word “disgraceful” after referencing how stretched Spurs’ squad was after the 2-2 draw with Man City, in an apparent dig at the club’s recruitment.
It followed a previous social media post in January, in which Romero accused the club’s hierarchy of “lies”. In a since-edited post, he wrote: “They only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies.”
On Thursday, head coach Thomas Frank said the latest matter had been “dealt with internally” and stood by his skipper, starting him on Saturday against United.
However, just 29 minutes into the match, Romero was shown a straight red for a challenge on Casemiro, leaving his team-mates the task of facing in-form United for over an hour with 10 men.
Cristian Romero is ordered from the field after being shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver
It is Romero’s second red card of the season and means he is facing a four-game ban, which will include the north London derby.
“It’s an absolute nightmare for Thomas Frank,” said former Spurs captain Michael Dawson on Soccer Saturday.
“This is a disaster for Thomas Frank. As a manager, you’re sitting in 14th and you’re going, ‘my captain has come out and said this’. Now he leaves his team down to 10 men.
“I’m baffled. As a captain, you’re supposed to lead by example. You leave your team vulnerable, 10 men at Old Trafford.
“Your losing your captain and one of your best players. He’s let his team down again today.”
Romero has now been sent off six times across all competitions since his Spurs debut in August 2021 – that’s more than any other player in the competition in that period.
He has seen red four times in the Premier League – the joint-most by a Spurs player with Younes Kaboul.
He was also dismissed against Liverpool this season in December, when he was handed a fine and an additional game ban for ‘failing to leave the field of play promptly’.
Reaction to Romero’s red
Here’s how we covered Romero’s first-half red card on Sky Sports…
Michael Dawson on Soccer Saturday:
“Romero comes through, he thinks there’s a tackle there, it’s full throttle. He follows through. I don’t need Mike Dean. I don’t need VAR. It’s not going to be overturned. I hope Casemiro is going to be OK.”
Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:
“Romero caused Frank problems with his social media post this week. He’s now given him a major problem on the pitch with that bad tackle.
“What was that word Romero used in his social media post? ‘Disgraceful’.”
Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday:
“I hope this doesn’t get silly and Man Utd win four and five, and then the Tottenham fans are sitting in the pub after going ‘if everybody was like Romero we’d be alright, if everybody got stuck in…’
“He’s the reason they’ll probably get beat now. He’s the reason. Unbelievable.”
A month of headlines for Romero
January 7 – Accuses club hierarchy of lies
January 8 – Frank defends Romero and calls him a “true captain”
February 2 – Romero uses the word “disgraceful” after referencing the lack of depth in the Spurs squad
February 5 – Frank says he wouldn’t have posted that on social media but refers to Romero as passionate and ambitious
February 7 – Romero gets a straight red card for a dreadful tackle at Old Trafford
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
