Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank strongly criticised a section of home supporters after they booed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario during their 2-1 defeat against Fulham — Spurs’ 10th Premier League home loss of 2025.
The match unravelled early for Spurs, who conceded twice in the opening six minutes. But the moment that ignited the loudest reaction inside the stadium was Fulham’s second goal, a strike made possible by a major error from Vicario well outside his penalty area.
Costly Mistake Leads to Fulham’s Long-Range Goal
Vicario sprinted out to meet a long ball near the touchline and initially appeared to control the situation. But instead of clearing the ball into the stands, the Italian attempted to turn back inside. His footing failed him, the ball skimmed off Harry Wilson, and quickly fell to Josh King.
King calmly teed up Wilson, who curled a stunning 36.6-metre effort into the empty net — the second-longest Premier League goal of the season.
The frustration inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium grew louder when Vicario received the ball again moments later, triggering boos from a section of home fans. Spurs were jeered again at half-time and full-time after failing to recover from the early collapse.
Frank, however, was furious at the reaction from the stands.
“They can’t be true Tottenham fans if they do that,”
Frank told BBC Sport, calling the mid-game boos “completely unacceptable.”
He insisted fans have every right to express frustration after the final whistle, but not while the match is still being played.
Former Premier League goalkeeper Joe Hart also weighed in on Match of the Day, admitting the incident was preventable but still defending Vicario as a committed, respected member of the squad.
Vicario Takes Responsibility: “I’m a Big Man”
Despite the backlash, the 29-year-old goalkeeper faced the situation head-on in a post-match interview.
“The second goal was a mistake of mine. I take full responsibility,” Vicario said, accepting the criticism as part of the job.
“I’m a big man — what can I say? The fans have the right to react how they want.”
Vicario urged his teammates to remain calmer in difficult moments, admitting Spurs lacked composure needed to overturn early setbacks.
Fulham’s match-winner Harry Wilson later revealed he was shocked no Spurs defender retreated to cover the empty goal.
“I felt like Vicario was out of the box forever,” Wilson said. “My eyes lit up when nobody dropped back to defend.”
Spurs’ Home Crisis Deepens
The defeat adds to a worrying trend for Tottenham, who have now equaled their club record for most home league defeats in a calendar year. Their London derby form has also collapsed — Spurs have now lost four consecutive home derbies for the first time in Premier League history.
Frank accepted the pressure is building but believes the team must stay united.
“When you’re down 2-0 after six minutes, the climb is huge,” he said. “Every game has its own story — this one was lost early.”
He praised the team’s improved second-half display but admitted confidence is low and performances need to improve quickly. Tottenham’s attacking numbers highlight their struggles, averaging just 9.5 shots per game and 3.2 on target, their lowest output since records began in 2003-04.
Former midfielder Danny Murphy believes Frank must “ride the storm,” adding that the manager is still unsure about his best formation and strongest XI.
As the pressure mounts, Spurs still face daunting home fixtures against Brentford and champions Liverpool before the year ends — matches that could determine the direction of their troubled season.
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