Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been given a seven-match ban for an alleged racist remark made about South Korean teammate Son Heung-min in a TV interview.
Bentancur, 27, was charged by the Football Association on 12 September after an interview on the Uruguayan TV channel Canal 10 in June that showed the midfielder being asked by the host to show the shirt of a Spurs player.
The former Juventus player replied: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
He swiftly apologised to Son on Instagram, saying it was a “very bad joke” and he would “never disrespect you or hurt you”.
Son, Tottenham’s captain, accepted his apology, saying that his teammate had made a mistake and “would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive”.
“We are brothers and nothing has changed at all,” Son said in June. “We’re past this, we’re united, and we will be back together in pre-season to fight for our club as one.”
But due to this being an “aggravated breach”, an independent regulatory commission panel were required to either uphold the FA charge or dismiss the case.
Bentancur was fined £100,0000 and will sit out Tottenham’s next seven domestic fixtures, but will be able to feature for the club in upcoming Europa League matches with Roma and Rangers.
He will miss the Premier League game against Manchester City away on Saturday, as well as home clashes against Liverpool and Chelsea in December. Bentancur will also miss the League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.
Bentancur ordered to attend ‘face-to-face education programme’
As well as the fine and seven-match ban, the FA ordered Bentancur to attend a “face-to-face education programme”, details of which will be provided later. The course should be completed by 11 March next year.
“If the player fails to complete the programme satisfactorily in that period, he will be immediately suspended from all domestic club football until such time as the mandatory programme is completed,” the FA said.
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Tottenham midfielder ‘brought game into disrepute’
In its statement, the FA added: “It was alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.
“It was further alleged that this constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.
“Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing.”
Tottenham and Bentancur did not immediately respond to the decision.
