Cristian Romero’s Tottenham reaction after Man United red card sparks Arsenal concern

Cristian Romero was shown a straight red card against Manchester United, leaving Tottenham Hotspur without one of their key defenders for the next four Premier League matches.

The Argentine centre-back was sent off in the first half after a heavy challenge on United midfielder Casemiro, forcing Spurs to play with ten men for more than an hour against an in-form opponent. As a result, Romero will serve a four-match suspension, ruling him out of fixtures against Newcastle United, Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank confirmed after the match that Romero apologised to his teammates in the dressing room. Despite the incident—and recent criticism of the club hierarchy on social media—Frank insisted he has no regrets about continuing to name the 27-year-old as captain, describing him as one of the team’s most influential players.

Casemiro initially appeared to be in discomfort following the challenge but was able to continue playing.

Frank acknowledged Romero’s aggressive style, noting that while the defender plays with passion and intensity, there is often a fine line when competing for the ball. He stressed that Romero had no intention of being sent off and that the apology was sufficient for now.

Former striker Ally McCoist criticised the tackle during commentary, suggesting Romero caught Casemiro on the ankle with his studs and needlessly endangered his opponent, ultimately letting his teammates down.

The Premier League later confirmed the decision through its Match Centre account, explaining that VAR upheld the red card for serious foul play, ruling the challenge was made with excessive force and posed a risk to the opponent.

Romero, who was making his 20th league start of the season, had faced scrutiny over his leadership prior to kick-off, but Frank stood by him, conceding that while mistakes may still occur, the defender continues to offer significant value on the pitch.