Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has been formally charged by the Football Association for his behaviour following a controversial sending-off in the Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The FA's Allegations Against Romero
The FA alleges that Romero failed to leave the pitch promptly and acted in a confrontational manner towards referee John Brooks after being shown a red card in the 93rd minute of Tottenham's 2-1 defeat. The incident occurred at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, 20 December.
An official statement from the governing body confirmed the charge, giving the Argentine centre-back until Friday, 2 January 2026, to respond. This deadline falls between two key fixtures for Spurs, coming just after a New Year's Day match against Brentford and before a home game with Sunderland.
Immediate Suspension and Manager's Defence
Romero is already set to miss Tottenham's next Premier League encounter against Crystal Palace on 28 December, serving a standard one-match ban for the two yellow cards that led to his dismissal.
Spurs manager Thomas Frank has been vocal in his defence of the player, expressing his frustration at the original decision. Frank suggested the whole team's reaction indicated the sending-off was harsh, particularly questioning the second yellow card given after a challenge from Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate.
"I see two big boys competing; Konate absolutely smashing through Cuti [Romero]. It's a foul," Frank stated in his post-match comments. "His foot landed on Cuti's head... Cuti makes a reaction. I think I guess it can be given, but also I guess it can be not given."
Passion Versus Discipline
Speaking further on Tuesday, Frank acknowledged Romero's fiery temperament while praising his importance to the team. "We're talking about a player, a very passionate player, that, when he is at his absolute top, he carries the team on his back," said Frank, referencing Romero's role in last season's Europa League triumph.
However, the manager conceded his player must find a better balance. "When you're very passionate, sometimes you can maybe, in a few moments, lack the extra coolness. Something he's working on."
Frank pinpointed the moment Romero made contact with the official as the critical error. "The mistake he did there was he was running, unfortunately, touching John Brooks. That means he, when he touched the ref, you know, unfortunately, you need to have a yellow."
The potential additional punishment from the FA could see Romero's absence from the Spurs backline extended, dealing a blow to their festive fixture schedule. The club and player must now prepare their response to the charge ahead of the early January deadline.
