Rodrigo Bentancur: Tottenham Midfielder Handed Seven-Game Ban for Racial Slur

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match domestic suspension by the Football Association (FA) after making an inappropriate racial comment during a media interview earlier this year. Bentancur was found guilty of breaching FA Rule E3 for making a statement that violated the standards of conduct expected of footballers.

Incident Overview

The incident occurred during an interview on Canal 10 in June, when the former Juventus player was asked by the host to show the shirt of a Tottenham teammate. In response, Bentancur made the controversial remark:
“Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too, as they all look the same.”

While Bentancur quickly issued an apology for his comment, the FA deemed it an “aggravated breach” due to its reference to race and ethnicity. An independent regulatory commission panel reviewed the case and upheld the charge, resulting in the midfielder’s seven-match domestic suspension. Bentancur will be available to play in Europa League fixtures, including matches against Roma and Rangers.

Sanctions Imposed

The FA has confirmed that Bentancur will face the following sanctions:

• Seven-match domestic suspension
• £100,000 fine

An FA spokesperson commented:
“Rodrigo Bentancur has been found in breach of FA Rule E3 following media interview in which he used inappropriate language. The panel determined that this comment amounted to an aggravated breach, referencing nationality, race, or ethnic origin.”

Despite the controversy, Son Heung-Min, who was the subject of the comment. Stated that he and Bentancur remained “brothers” and that “nothing had changed” between them, following an apology from Bentancur.

Spurs’ Upcoming Fixtures

Bentancur will miss Tottenham’s next seven domestic matches but will still be eligible for Europa League games. Here are Tottenham’s next seven domestic fixtures:

Bentancur’s suspension will keep him sidelined for these key Premier League clashes, as Tottenham aims to continue its strong form in the domestic competition.