Tottenham Hotspur face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League - and Thomas Frank is already without Brennan Johnson after being sent off against Copenhagen
Matthew Abbott
19:38, 25 Nov 2025
Thomas Frank with his hands on his head during a press conference
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Thomas Frank faces a Champions League selection headache(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur face Paris Saint-Germain with Micky van de Ven, Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison all one yellow card away from missing their next Champions League match.
The three players have already received two bookings during the league phase. A third yellow card triggers an automatic one-match suspension.
Article 63.02 of the Champions League regulations states: "From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.)."
They were all shown their first cautions during the 1-0 win over Villarreal in Spurs ' opening match of this season's competition. Van de Ven then received his second a fortnight later in the 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt.
However, he has gone through the two matches since without a third being forthcoming, even after playing every minute of those games. Richarlison also managed to get through the Copenhagen win without going into the book during his appearance as a second-half substitute.
Kolo Muani was the only Tottenham player booked during that match. Brennan Johnson, of course, was shown a red card, which is why the Wales international cannot play in Paris.
Thomas Frank believed that sending off was harsh and unfortunate. He said after the match: "I think I understand why it can be given.
"But I think it's a little bit - what I've talked about before - that still footage, studs on leg, is what the ref sees the first thing. That's where it looks bad.
"There was no recklessness in this tackle from Brennan. He goes down into a sliding tackle.
"You can say, 'Why give the opportunity?' But when he goes down, there's literally no leg in front of him.
"So when he slides, then the player steps down, and then it looks bad after that. I think it was a little bit unfortunate, and I think it was harsh."
Johnson will be able to play in the Champions League again when Slavia Prague visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December. Spurs then host Borussia in January before travelling to Eintracht Frankfurt for their final match of the league phase.
Yellow cards also carry forward to the knockout phase. Cautions only expire after the quarter-finals, in time for the semi-finals.
Midway through the league phase, Tottenham are 10th in the table, one of only five teams remaining unbeaten. However, they have yet to win away from home.
Their current position leaves them in line for a place in the play-offs as a seeded team. Teams who finish ninth to 16th are seeded, while the 17th to 24th seeds are unseeded.
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