Tottenham captain Cristian Romero apologised to his team-mates after his first-half red card in their 2-0 defeat at Man Utd on Saturday - but head coach Thomas Frank backed his skipper.
Romero was slammed by the Soccer Saturday panel for the sending off which "let his team down". The Argentina international was shown a straight red for a challenge on Casemiro 29 minutes into the match at Old Trafford, leaving his team-mates the task of facing in-form United for over an hour with 10 men.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes sealed the win for United, a result which leaves Spurs 14th in the Premier League table.
Frank confirmed Romero had said sorry for his actions in the dressing room after the defeat but insisted the defender hadn't intended to hurt Casemiro.
"The red card is a red card," he said. "I've watched it back five times. Cuti tried to go for the ball. You play with passion and aggression and there's a fine line."
Frank had also cited Romero's passion when he defended his centre-back's social media outburst earlier this week.
Romero had made headlines after the 2-2 draw with Man City when he used the word "disgraceful" after referencing how stretched Spurs' squad was, in an apparent dig at the club's recruitment.
It followed a previous social media post in January, in which Romero accused the club's hierarchy of "lies". In a since-edited post, he wrote: "They only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies."
On Thursday, head coach and stood by his skipper, starting him on Saturday against United.
Asked if he had regrets keeping Romero as captain, Frank said: "No, there is not. He's apologised to his team-mates in the changing room. He's one of our most important players. He doesn't have any intention to get a red card.
"He's apologised to the team and that's enough for me right now, there's nothing more to do."
It is Romero's second red card of the season and means he is facing a four-game ban, which will include the north London derby.
"It's an absolute nightmare for Thomas Frank," said former Spurs captain Michael Dawson on Soccer Saturday.
"This is a disaster for Thomas Frank. As a manager, you're sitting in 14th and you're going, 'my captain has come out and said this'. Now he leaves his team down to 10 men.
"I'm baffled. As a captain, you're supposed to lead by example. You leave your team vulnerable, 10 men at Old Trafford.
"Your losing your captain and one of your best players. He's let his team down again today."
Romero has now been sent off six times across all competitions since his Spurs debut in August 2021 - that's more than any other player in the competition in that period.
He has seen red four times in the Premier League - the joint-most by a Spurs player with Younes Kaboul.
He was also dismissed against Liverpool this season in December, when he was handed a fine and an additional game ban for 'failing to leave the field of play promptly'.
Here's how we covered Romero's first-half red card on Your Site...
Michael Dawson on Soccer Saturday:
"Romero comes through, he thinks there's a tackle there, it's full throttle. He follows through. I don't need Mike Dean. I don't need VAR. It's not going to be overturned. I hope Casemiro is going to be OK."
Your Site' Peter Smith:
"Romero caused Frank problems with his social media post this week. He's now given him a major problem on the pitch with that bad tackle.
"What was that word Romero used in his social media post? 'Disgraceful'."
Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday:
"I hope this doesn't get silly and Man Utd win four and five, and then the Tottenham fans are sitting in the pub after going 'if everybody was like Romero we'd be alright, if everybody got stuck in...'
"He's the reason they'll probably get beat now. He's the reason. Unbelievable."
January 7 - Accuses club hierarchy of lies
January 8 - Frank defends Romero and calls him a "true captain"
February 2 - Romero uses the word "disgraceful" after referencing the lack of depth in the Spurs squad
February 5 - Frank says he wouldn't have posted that on social media but refers to Romero as passionate and ambitious
February 7 - Romero gets a straight red card for a dreadful tackle at Old Trafford
