Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United: Spurs defender Cristian Romero has been banned from featuring against Eddie Howe’s side on Tuesday night.
Romero was shown a straight red card by Michael Oliver for catching Casemiro with his studs. That sending off meant that Spurs were forced to play an hour with ten men before they eventually succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Oliver’s decision to show Romero a red card was checked by VAR, as the technology swiftly concurred with the call. In analysing the decision for Sky Sports Ref Watch, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said: “A really poor challenge. It's a really good spot by the referee. He recognises it and deals with it.”
Former Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd added: “Michael Oliver was straight on the scene, he was very decisive. Romero has gone with a straight leg. A lot of players realise they're in a bad position and take their leg away, sometimes you still catch them, but Romero intentionally stuck his leg out to hurt someone.
“He goes down like he's been kicked to try and con the referee. It's a straight red.
“He needs to be leading by example, doing things like this costs his team even more.”
Bothroyd then questioned Thomas Frank’s decision to keep the Argentine as his captain: “As a captain, you should be leading by example on and off the field.
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“Romero is still one of the best defenders in the Premier League. He's fast, strong, scores goals in both boxes, but he's become a liability.
“I'm surprised Thomas Frank is sticking by him, I have to commend him for that because I would strip him of the captaincy.”
The Premier League Match Centre also explained the decision on X, writing: ‘#MUNTOT – 29’ The referee’s call of red card to Romero for serious foul play was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that the challenge was made with excessive force and endangered an opponent.’
Romero will serve the first game of a four match ban on Tuesday night when Spurs host Newcastle United on Tuesday night, with the Argentine also set to miss the north London derby against Arsenal and matches against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Saturday’s dismissal was the second time this season that Romero had been shown a red card and thus he has had an additional match added to his suspension.
Newcastle United & Tottenham Hotspur injury news
Romero’s suspension couldn’t have come at a worse time for Frank as he is set to be without ten players in all for the visit of Newcastle United. None of James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies or Dejan Kulusevski are expected to feature against the Magpies at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Newcastle United, meanwhile, also have a fair amount of injury concerns to deal with of their own and have four players: Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth, Tino Livramento and Joelinton all sidelined this week.
Eddie Howe, though, did reveal that both Lewis Miley and Anthony Gordon could be fit enough to feature having both missed their defeat against Brentford on Sunday through injury.
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