My comment on Spurs playing dirty today wasn't about the Romero second yellow - it was about the other incidents of which I've mentioned some examples (and there were more - e.g., Isak also got studs raked down his thigh from a high challenge). That's why I didn't understand why you mentioned Konate - we were referring to different things.
As for provocation, Konate clearly annoyed Romero but Konate didn't tell Romero to hit out at him. That was all Romero's own doing and stupidity. If Ekitike or Szoboszlai had retaliated when Richarlison was engaging in classless shithousery with them, I would have said they were bloody stupid for doing so (thank goodness neither of them reacted).
(Btw, Frimpong was so wound up by Richarlison's arm bloodying his lip that Slot very wisely took him off before his fury got him in trouble. If Frimpong had stayed on and been booked as a result of his anger at Richarlison's actions, it would have been his own fault, not Richarlison's. Richarlison didn't get booked for the arm in the face, btw, and I am ok with that because, even though he is a complete fuckhead, I don't think there was any intent there.)