The 27-year-old centre-back apologised to supporters after Wednesday’s (01.07.26) damaging 3-2 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth, with his Instagram post appearing to criticise senior figures at the club amid a run of two wins in 12 league matches.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Frank said: “He is our captain, he’s not been fined. That’s an internal thing, but we haven’t done that. I think there’s a lot of ways to deal with different situations.
“We’ve chosen to have a good conversation with him, understand where he stands, handle it internally and that’s everything I have to say.”
Romero’s comments sparked widespread debate after he suggested accountability was not being shared evenly at Tottenham.
In his post, the Argentina World Cup winner wrote: “At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don’t – as has been happening for several years now. They only show up when things are going well.”
He also took responsibility for the team’s performances, adding: “We are responsible, there’s no doubt about that. I am the first. But we will keep facing up to it and trying to turn the situation around.”
Frank confirmed he held talks with Romero on Thursday (01.08.26) morning alongside co-sporting director Johan Lange, opting for dialogue rather than discipline.
He said: “We chose to handle it internally. We had a good conversation and we move on.”
The episode is not the first time Romero has used social media to voice frustration.
When former head coach Ange Postecoglou was sacked last June, the defender referenced “the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist,” a remark that was also widely interpreted as a swipe at the club’s hierarchy.
Tottenham’s off-field structure has undergone significant change in recent months, with Daniel Levy stepping down as chairman in September and Vinai Venkatesham appointed chief executive in April.
ENIC, the club’s majority owners, have also begun communicating more frequently through briefings.
On the pitch, Spurs’ problems deepened at Bournemouth with injuries to midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, 28, and midfielder Lucas Bergvall, 19, adding to an already stretched squad.
Frank said: “Rodri is a hamstring injury, looks like a bigger one. We don’t know the extent yet. Lucas is being assessed today and we’ll know more later.”
He added on winger Mohammed Kudus, 25, and forward Dejan Kulusevski, also 25: “Kudus is a bigger one, to the tendon and quad, and I don’t expect him back until after the March international break. If anyone can come back quicker it’s Deki.”
