Brighton & Hove Albion could be missing a key player when they travel to face Tottenham Hotspur after the international break. Next month, Igor Tudor and his side will welcome the Seagulls as they fight to secure their Premier League status.
With only four points separating Leeds United in 16th from West Ham United in 18th—alongside Nottingham Forest and Spurs—the relegation battle remains incredibly tight. At the same time, Brighton sit just five points away from the European qualification spots, with three teams between them and Chelsea in sixth place.
Although Fabian Hürzeler’s side may feel confident—having avoided defeat to Spurs at home since October 2022—they could be without midfielder Diego Gómez. The 22-year-old has become a vital figure in Brighton’s starting XI this season, missing just three matches in all competitions.
However, Gómez has already received nine yellow cards, putting him dangerously close to suspension. Under The Football Association rules, any player who collects 10 yellow cards in league games up to their club’s 32nd fixture must serve a two-match ban. That means if he is booked in Brighton’s first match after the break against Burnley on April 11, he would miss the clash with Tottenham on April 18, as well as the following fixture against Chelsea on April 26.
Hürzeler has spoken highly of Gómez’s development on the south coast, so losing him would be a significant setback ahead of the Spurs encounter. He praised the midfielder’s passion, work rate, finishing ability, and willingness to improve, noting his strong attitude and commitment to adapting to a new culture while learning English.
Meanwhile, Tudor has described the current survival fight as the toughest challenge of his managerial career. He admitted the situation leaves little time to focus on style or performance, stressing that the immediate priority is simply finding ways to win matches and secure points. In his words, playing style must take a back seat because the battle to avoid relegation is, from a sporting perspective, a matter of survival.
