Rodrigo Bentancur Gets Seven-Match Ban In Premier League For Racial Abuse

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match domestic ban by the Football Association for using a racial slur while talking about team-mate Son Heung-min in a TV programme.

Bentancur has also been fined £100,000 and ordered to take part in a mandatory face-to-face education programme. 

“Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing,” said an FA statement.

What exactly did Rodrigo Bentancur say

In June, on Uruguayan television programme Por La Camiseta, host Rafa Cotelo asked Bentancur for a Spurs player’s shirt, to which he replied, “Sonny’s?”, adding: “Or one of Sonny’s cousins as they all look more or less the same.” He would later later apologise on social media, saying that the comments were a “very bad joke”.

Son, who hails from South Korea, had accepted his teammate’s apology.

“He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised. Lolo [Bentancur] would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all,” Son said in a post on social media.

“We’re past this, we’re united, and we will be back together in preseason to fight for our club as one.”

However, according to the FA, the midfielder “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute”. It also added, “It was further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”… as it included a reference – whether expressed or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”

“The Player initially showed remorse and took responsibility for his actions and offered full and (we have no doubt) sincere apologies. In our view, that was greatly to his credit,” the commission said in its written reasons.

“It was not to his credit that, thereafter, he elected to deny the charge on grounds which, on their face, undermined that initial, commendable reaction.”

Rodrigo Bentancur set to miss crucial Premier League matches

As a result of the punishment, the 27-year-old will not return to domestic action until 26 December, missing Premier League matches against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, among others. Additionally, he won’t be starting in Spurs’ League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.

Also Read: Why Bayern Munich Has Been Fined 150,000 Euros?

The Uruguayan player will still be available for Tottenham’s Europa League matches as the suspension only covers domestic matches. Spurs take on Roma in the league phase of the tournament on November 28.

Rodrigo Bentancur has featured on 15 occasions for Tottenham this season and scored his first goal of the campaign in a defeat by Ipswich on 11 November.