Saturday night turned into a nightmare for Tottenham and their captain Cristian Romero. Beyond the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, the Argentine defender could now face an extended ban.
The FA charges Romero
The Football Association has officially charged the centre-back for his conduct following his dismissal. Romero stands accused of failing to promptly leave the field of play and behaving in a confrontational and aggressive manner towards referee John Brooks.
The defender had already picked up a first yellow card for dissent after Liverpool's second goal. In the dying minutes, he lost his head and kicked out at Ibrahima Konaté while both players were on the ground — a moment Gary Neville described as "sheer madness" live on Sky Sports.
What punishment awaits the Spurs captain?
The automatic one-match ban already rules him out of the trip to Crystal Palace on December 28. But this new charge could significantly extend his absence. Romero has until January 2, 2026 to respond to the FA — just one day after the Brentford clash and two days before Sunderland visit in the Cup.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank defended his player by pointing the finger at the officials: "There's a massive mistake by John Brooks. Two hands on the back from Ekitike on the goal. VAR should have bailed him out. Without that unfair first yellow, we wouldn't be here."
One moment too many for Romero
It's not the first time the Argentine international has made headlines for his fiery temper. Jamie Redknapp summed it up perfectly: "What Romero did is what Romero does. Getting involved right in front of the referee and kicking out at someone right in front of him... it's inexplicable."
With now seven yellow cards in the Premier League this season, the 2022 World Cup winner is walking a tightrope. The question remains whether the FA will extend his ban and deprive Spurs of their captain during this crucial festive period.
