Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur Receives Seven-Match Ban for Racist Remark

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match suspension and fined £100,000 following an independent regulatory commission’s ruling regarding his racially insensitive comment about teammate Son Heung-min.

The suspension means Spurs will be without one of their key players for a significant stretch of domestic games.

The Football Association (FA) brought the charge against Bentancur after remarks he made during a pre-season interview surfaced. The FA’s ruling includes a seven-match domestic ban and a financial penalty of £100,000.

Bentancur, a vital part of Ange Postecoglou’s squad this season, has been a consistent presence, missing only one Premier League game due to concussion. His absence is expected to create a notable gap in Tottenham’s midfield lineup.

In its statement on Monday, the FA confirmed the commission’s findings, saying:
“An independent regulatory commission has issued a seven-match suspension and a fine of £100,000 to Rodrigo Bentancur for violating FA Rule E3 during a media interview.

“The midfielder was found to have acted improperly and used abusive and/or insulting language, which brought the game into disrepute. The offense also constituted an aggravated breach as it referenced nationality, race, or ethnic origin.”

Reports indicate that the charge stems from comments Bentancur made during an interview on Uruguayan television channel Canal 10 in June. When asked to identify a Spurs player’s shirt, he reportedly remarked, “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

Although Bentancur issued an apology soon after, the FA categorized the offense as an aggravated breach, necessitating a panel review.

The panel upheld the FA’s charge, and as a result, Bentancur will miss Tottenham’s next seven domestic matches. However, he remains eligible to participate in upcoming Europa League fixtures against Roma and Rangers.