Controversial Referee Decisions Impact Tottenham's Loss to Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has claimed that Cristian Romero would not have been sent off during the team's 2-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool if referee John Brooks had performed his duties correctly.
Tottenham faced a setback in the first half when a VAR review led to the dismissal of Xavi Simons for a foul on Virgil van Dijk. Despite being a man down, the Spurs managed to fight back, with substitute Richarlison scoring late in the game.
As Tottenham pressed for an equalizer during stoppage time, their captain Romero received a second yellow card for a reckless kick at Ibrahima Konate. His first booking was issued for dissent after Liverpool's second goal, which Romero believed was a result of a push from Hugo Ekitike.
“There was a significant error by John Brooks on the pitch. Ekitike had both hands on my player’s back,” Frank stated. “I don’t understand how he didn’t see it. Thankfully, we have VAR, but it failed to correct this mistake.”
Frank further emphasized that if the referee had correctly officiated the situation leading to the second Liverpool goal, Romero would not have received his first yellow card. “I have a player who is extremely passionate, and sometimes that passion leads to crossing the line,” he added.
The Premier League match center confirmed on X that Brooks' decision regarding Liverpool's goal was reviewed and upheld by VAR, which determined that the contact between Ekitike and Romero was normal for an aerial challenge.
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given supported the referee's decision during an analysis on Match of the Day, stating, “I believe John Brooks made the correct call.”
Despite the loss, Spurs displayed resilience against last season’s champions, though the result leaves them in 13th place in the league standings. Tottenham's 11 home league defeats in 2025 mark their highest in a calendar year, with five of those losses occurring under Frank’s management, raising further questions about his tenure.
Concerns Over Romero's Captaincy
Questions are also emerging regarding Romero's role as captain. Appointed by Frank following Son Heung-min's departure to Los Angeles FC, Romero has a troubled disciplinary history, accumulating 34 yellow cards and three red cards in 114 Premier League appearances.
Alongside Bournemouth, Tottenham leads the league in yellow cards this season with 42, with Romero responsible for 21% of those infractions. He was also among the players sent off when Spurs were last reduced to nine players in a league match against Chelsea in 2023.
The context of his second yellow card against Liverpool left former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp perplexed. “I believe Ekitike’s goal should have been ruled a foul. The failure to call it resulted in Romero receiving a yellow card, which ultimately impacted the game,” Redknapp remarked on Sky Sports.
“What Romero did is typical of him. To engage in such behavior right in front of the referee is unacceptable. If my four-year-old did that, I would question their actions.”
Former Tottenham goalkeeper Joe Hart described some of Spurs' actions during the defeat as “wild.” He commented, “They put up a commendable fight, but their lack of discipline made things difficult. Xavi Simons’ challenge was reckless and warranted a red card.”
Hart noted that once Romero received his first yellow card, it was evident that a second was imminent, as Konate baited him into a reckless act right in front of the referee. “Tottenham completely lost control during the match,” he added.
Simons Apologizes to Van Dijk
In an Instagram post, Simons expressed remorse for his earlier tackle on Netherlands captain Van Dijk. “Mistakes happen. Virg is my captain, and I would never intentionally hurt him or anyone. To my Spurs teammates, my manager, and the fans, I take responsibility. I’m really sorry,” he wrote.
While Frank acknowledged that similar challenges have received red cards in the past, he argued that Simons’ tackle did not warrant such punishment. “I don’t agree with the red card. The game is too significant to dismiss it, but I don’t believe it was reckless or involved exceptional force,” Frank stated.
He explained, “Simons was attempting to apply pressure on Van Dijk when he changed direction and unfortunately stepped on his Achilles. While one could argue he should have been smarter, are we no longer allowed to have physical contact in football?”
Frank concluded by expressing confusion over the potential for a three-game suspension for Simons, stating, “It’s unjust to penalize him for something that was not reckless, and it seems we cannot appeal it.”