The clash between Manchester United and Tottenham was delicately balanced at halftime on Saturday lunchtime, but Cristian Romero’s difficult week took another turn for the worse when he was sent off for a reckless studs-up challenge on Casemiro.
After falling ill during last weekend’s trip to Manchester City and publicly criticising Tottenham’s hierarchy over their lack of January transfer activity, the Spurs captain now faces a four-game suspension following his straight red card.
Thomas Frank’s side travelled to Old Trafford aiming to halt United’s three-game Premier League winning streak and secure their first league victory of 2026. However, Romero’s moment of indiscipline proved costly, and within minutes Bryan Mbeumo capitalised by firing United ahead from a well-rehearsed set-piece.
That decisive 10-minute spell left Michael Carrick’s team firmly in control at the interval, leaving Spurs with a huge task after the break. While many questioned why Romero’s ban is more severe than other red-card punishments seen during the 2025/26 season, the reasoning is clearly outlined in Premier League regulations.
Why Romero Will Serve a Four-Match Ban
Romero’s suspension has been extended to four games rather than the standard three because it is his second red card of the season. Under FA disciplinary rules, multiple dismissals in a single campaign automatically trigger an extra one-match ban.
As a result, Romero will also miss the north London derby against Arsenal on February 22. Earlier in the season, he was shown a straight red card against Liverpool after lashing out at Ibrahima Konaté and later received an additional suspension for his conduct following that incident.
Once this latest punishment is completed, Romero will have missed nine matches this season through suspension alone, including a previous ban for accumulating too many yellow cards.
A Chaotic Week Ends on a Sour Note
The 27-year-old’s latest dismissal — his sixth red card for Tottenham across all competitions — comes just days after he appeared to take aim at the club’s leadership amid an ongoing injury crisis.
Romero described it as “disgraceful” that Spurs had only 11 senior players available for their match against Manchester City, a comment widely interpreted as criticism of the club’s inactivity in the transfer window. Thomas Frank later confirmed the issue had been handled internally.
Last month, Romero also escaped punishment after posting — and later editing — a cryptic message referencing figures at the club who “appear when things are going well, to tell a few lies.”
Whether coincidence or consequence, Romero’s latest sending-off could hardly have come at a worse moment for Tottenham. The club sit just three points above 17th-placed Nottingham Forest heading into the remainder of the weekend’s fixtures — the same league position they finished in under Ange Postecoglou last season.
