Tottenham’s Bentancur Faces 7-Game Ban for Racist Remark on Son: Latest Football News

Rodrigo Bentancur Faces Seven-Match Ban for Racist Remark

Rodrigo Bentancur, a midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur, has received a seven-match ban. This decision comes after he made a racist comment regarding his South Korean teammate, Son Heung-min, during a television interview.

The English Football Association (FA) released a statement explaining that Bentancur “acted in an improper manner” and used “abusive and/or insulting” words that brought the game into disrepute. The FA classified his actions as an “aggravated breach” due to a reference to race or nationality.

During an episode of the Uruguayan show Por La Camiseta in June, Bentancur made a joke about Son’s ethnicity, saying, “It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.” After backlash, he apologized on Instagram, calling the remark a “very bad joke” and stating he did not intend to offend.

Son accepted the apology and said their relationship remains strong. He emphasized that they are united as teammates.

In addition to the ban, an independent commission fined Bentancur £100,000 (about $126,000). He is free to play in Europe, with Spurs scheduled to face Roma in the Europa League on November 28.

The FA has also mandated that Bentancur attend an education program. He must complete this program by March 11 next year. If he fails to do so, he will face a suspension from domestic club football.

Tottenham Hotspur and Bentancur have not yet commented on the punishment.