Thomas Frank blasts Tottenham Hotspur fans for booing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after error
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Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Nov 29.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank criticised some of the club’s fans for turning their anger on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, after the Italian was at fault for Fulham’s second goal in a 2-1 home defeat on Nov 29.
Vicario came way out of his goal and gifted possession to Fulham, before Harry Wilson scored with a stunning shot from 35 metres into an unguarded net in the sixth minute.
Two minutes earlier, he could do nothing as Kenny Tete’s deflected low shot fizzed past him into the net. Mohammed Kudus scored Spurs’ late consolation via a superb volley.
It was Tottenham’s 10th home defeat in the English Premier League in 2025 and fans booed the team off at half-time and full time. While that was probably expected, Frank said he could not accept the treatment of Italy international Vicario.
“When you’re down 2-0 after six minutes, there is a mountain to climb. When you’re in a bad spell, everything seems to go against you as well – the first was a deflected shot, the second is a mistake from Vic (Vicario),” he said.
“I didn’t like that our fans booed at him straight after and a few times after that. They can’t be true Tottenham fans, because everyone supports each other when you’re on the pitch and we do everything we can to perform.
“I’m fine with them booing after the match, no problem, but not during. That is unacceptable in my opinion.”
After an encouraging start to his Spurs reign, Frank is now coming under increasing pressure with the side having only two wins from their last nine league games, ahead of a daunting trip to Newcastle United in midweek. The Magpies thrashed Everton 4-1 away on Nov 29
Elsewhere, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke accused Manchester City of exploiting a stoppage during City’s 3-2 win on Nov 29, hinting that goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma feigned injury to let manager Pep Guardiola issue fresh instructions.
City took charge early with goals from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol in the opening 25 minutes at the Etihad Stadium, only for Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin to pull a goal back in the 49th minute and Lukas Nmecha to equalise in the 68th.
Donnarumma asked for medical attention later in the game and Guardiola gathered his team to provide additional instructions. City won the match via Foden’s injury-time winner.
“It is not the elephant in the room. Why he (Donnarumma) went down, it was obvious. It is smart,” Farke said. “It is within the rules, so I can’t complain.”
“We need to educate our players in football what to do in terms of fair play and sportsmanship,” he added. “If we just try to bend the rules and even do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, I do not like personally.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, insisted he had believed Donnarumma’s injury was genuine, instructing James Trafford to warm up in case he was required. REUTERS, AFP
