Tottenham Hotspur's captain, Cristian Romero, will not participate in the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. The defender was visibly distraught when he was substituted during Sunday's 1-0 loss to Sunderland, following a collision with Tottenham's goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky, as he attempted to defend the ball from Sunderland's striker, Brian Brobbey. Although reports suggest Romero may recover in time for the World Cup, his club season has come to an end.
The injury poses a significant challenge for Tottenham, who are struggling with relegation and currently sit in the bottom three, two points from safety with only six league games left to play. This is another setback for new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who had been counting on Romero, describing him as a 'crucial player' after the loss at the Stadium of Light. De Zerbi will now have to find an alternative, with Kevin Danso likely to replace Romero for the remainder of the season.
Romero's injury occurred when Brobbey pushed him, sparking debate over whether the striker should have been given a red card, as he was already on a yellow card. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher noted that the outcome of the incident should not influence the decision, stating that the foul was not serious enough to warrant a second yellow card.
Ex-Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd added that Romero was trying to shield the ball and Brobbey's push was an attempt to gain visibility. Tottenham's performance under De Zerbi has raised concerns, with the team's issues persisting despite the change in management. Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher expressed his disbelief at Tottenham's situation, stating that they look likely to be relegated and lack the strength to win against other struggling teams.