Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will not be available for next month’s Premier League clash with Liverpool after being handed a seven-match ban for using a racial slur about teammate Son Heung-min. He has also been fined £100,000.
During an interview this summer, the Uruguay international was asked by a native reporter to get hold of a Tottenham shirt. Bentancur replied: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
The 27-year-old later apologised for his comments, describing them as a “very bad joke”. The Football Association has now handed him a lengthy suspension and ordered him to take part in a mandatory in-person education programme.
The ban will only apply in domestic competitions, meaning Bentancur is allowed to play in Tottenham’s Europa League games. Liverpool’s visit to Spurs on December 22, their last match before Christmas, will be the final fixture he is banned for.
The FA released a statement amidst the sanction. It said: “An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and £100,000 fine on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview.
“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. Its written reasons for these decisions can be seen below.”
