Thomas Frank has slammed referee John Brooks and VAR for allowing a controversial goal in Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.
Thomas Frank has accused referee John Brooks and VAR of making the biggest mistake of the match by allowing Hugo Ekitike’s controversial goal to stand during Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool. The Danish manager fumed that the striker clearly pushed Cristian Romero in the back before heading home Liverpool’s second goal.
During the post-match press conference, Frank delivered a scathing verdict on the decision that effectively killed off Tottenham’s hopes of completing a comeback after going down to 10 men. He said (h/t Football London):
“I think the second goal is a mistake from the ref. I think there are two hands in the back. Clear two hands in the back. I don’t understand how you can do that. Everywhere else you have seen that a thousand times out there on the pitch, someone will go up for a header, a goal kick into the centre-back, two hands in the back ‘boom’ foul. But apparently not in the penalty box. I think that was the biggest mistake in my opinion and from VAR but apparently that was not enough. We kept going.”
Thomas Frank and John Brooks
Thomas Frank and John Brooks
The incident occurred in the 66th minute with Liverpool leading 1-0 through Alexander Isak’s earlier strike. Jeremie Frimpong’s deflected cross looped high into the Tottenham penalty area, where Ekitike rose above Romero. Television replays showed the French striker placing both hands on the Argentine defender’s back before gaining elevation to power his header past Guglielmo Vicario.
Romero immediately protested to Brooks, gesturing that he had been pushed. The Tottenham captain’s appeals were waved away by the referee. VAR official Stuart Attwell reviewed the incident but decided there was insufficient contact to overturn the on-field decision, allowing the goal to stand.
Frank’s frustration centers on the inconsistency of refereeing standards. He highlighted how similar challenges elsewhere on the pitch are routinely penalized, yet the same level of contact inside the penalty area is deemed acceptable.
Red Cards Compound Tottenham’s Misery
The controversial goal came after Tottenham had already been reduced to 10 men when Xavi Simons was sent off just after the half-hour mark. The Dutch midfielder trailed his studs down Virgil van Dijk’s leg in a clumsy challenge, with VAR instructing Brooks to review his initial yellow card decision before upgrading it to red.
Frank disagreed with that decision as well, arguing the challenge was neither reckless nor with exceptional force. He suggested Simons was simply trying to pressure Van Dijk when the Liverpool defender changed direction, causing the unfortunate contact. The manager questioned how Simons could receive a three-match ban for something he did not consider reckless.
https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/2002498990093558040?s=20
Cristian Romero completed a miserable evening when he received a second yellow card for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate during a tangle on the floor. The Argentine will miss Tottenham’s next match through suspension, joining an already lengthy injury list.
The defeat leaves Tottenham 13th in the Premier League table, and their home form continues to plague Frank’s tenure. The manager acknowledged after the match that the club must make their home a difficult place for teams to visit.
Frank’s complaints about refereeing decisions risk overshadowing what was ultimately another disappointing home performance. While the Ekitike goal was contentious, Tottenham’s failure to capitalize on their first-half chances proved equally costly. Liverpool controlled significant periods despite being outshot, demonstrating the gulf in quality and composure between the sides.