Why Romero is banned for Europa League game despite never playing in competition

Tottenham will be without key defender Cristian Romero for the start of their Europa League campaign, live on talkSPORT 2 tonight.

The Argentine has played every minute for Spurs in the Premier League so far this season but will be unavailable against Qarabag.

Ange Postecoglou will oversee European football at the club for the first time since becoming manager.

The Australian guided the Lilywhites back into continental competition this term following a one-year absence.

It is Tottenham’s first foray into the Europa League since 2020/21 – with Romero in Champions League action for Atalanta that season.

The 26-year-old has never played in UEFA‘s secondary tournament, but a unique ruling will mean he’s forced to wait until he can.

Why is Romero banned against Qarabag?

Tottenham’s World Cup-winning vice-captain is serving a retroactive ban that has not been served yet from the last time the club were in Europe.

Romero was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the second leg of the 1-0 aggregate Champions League defeat to AC Milan.

Under Antonio Conte, Spurs were looking to overturn a one-goal deficit to the Serie A side in the round of 16 in March 2023.

However, their task was made exponentially harder after Romero was shown a red card in 77th minute for a late lunge on Theo Hernandez – having been walking a tightrope since his initial caution 17 minutes in.

Tottenham ultimately only managed a goalless draw to confirm their elimination, before their lowly league finish meant rivals Arsenal have been north London’s only representative in Europe since.

As a result, Romero’s ban has lingered, and it carries across UEFA competitions if it cannot be served in the one it was gained in.

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The one-match suspension has not expired from his record despite the time delay, and so will be active in Thursday’s clash instead.

Romero won’t get the chance to make his Europa League debut until matchday two, having played in each of the other two UEFA competitions both above and below across his tenures at Tottenham and Atalanta.

His Champions League red card, which was his second sending-off during the 2022-23 season, saw him dubbed a ‘liability’ by talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara.

He has since worked on his discipline issues, having then had to serve a three-match ban after his high challenge on Argentina teammate Enzo Fernandez in a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea eight months later.

Romero picked up just one yellow card in Tottenham’s final six Premier League games last season.

He wasn’t booked at all during his country’s Copa America triumph this summer and is also waiting on his first caution of this season.

His Europa League suspension will be a major blow to Postecoglou’s plans, with Romero’s only absence so far coming when he was rested for the Carabao Cup win over Coventry City.

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Radu Dragusin deputised for the defender in the 2-1 third-round victory and is likely to do so again against Qarabag.

Coverage of which will be available on talkSPORT 2, with commentary from Ian Danter and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.

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