Thomas Frank is under mounting pressure amid growing calls for his dismissal following an incident spotted before Tottenham’s dramatic 3–2 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday.
Spurs are reportedly giving serious thought to parting ways with the Dane after a turbulent week across the Premier League. Chelsea recently dismissed Enzo Maresca following a breakdown in relations with the club hierarchy, while Manchester United also pulled the trigger on Ruben Amorim after another underwhelming away draw at Leeds.
Tottenham made a fast start on the south coast, taking the lead early, but their night unravelled when Antoine Semenyo struck a stoppage-time winner for Bournemouth. What followed only added fuel to the fire.
Spurs supporters initially sensed a promising evening when Mathys Tel opened the scoring inside five minutes. Bournemouth had failed to win any of their previous 11 league games, and few expected Frank’s side to be the ones to end that run. However, quick goals from Evanilson and Eli Junior Kroupi swung momentum, and Semenyo’s late strike rendered Joao Palhinha’s spectacular bicycle kick meaningless.
Matters worsened when an image circulated online showing Frank drinking from a cup bearing Arsenal branding before kick-off. The photo, captured by Getty Images photographer Catherine Ivill, sparked outrage among Tottenham fans. One supporter bluntly wrote, “Get him gone tonight,” while another questioned whether the image was real. It was later confirmed to be genuine, leaving many stunned, with one fan calling it “simply unbelievable.”
Addressing the controversy after the match, Frank insisted he was unaware of the cup’s branding, suggesting it was linked to Arsenal having played at the stadium days earlier.
“I honestly didn’t notice it,” he said. “If I had known, it would have been completely stupid to pick it up. It’s disappointing that this even needs to be discussed. I would never intentionally do something like that.”
Despite his explanation, the incident has done little to calm the anger among sections of the fanbase. While seemingly minor, such lapses are being viewed as symbols of a broader lack of awareness — and they could yet prove costly for Frank as pressure continues to build.
