Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been suspended for seven domestic matches and fined £100,000 by the Football Association (FA) following a racial slur aimed at teammate Son Heung-min.
The FA brought the charge in September, deeming it an “aggravated breach” of its regulations as it involved “reference to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”
The incident stemmed from a television interview Bentancur gave in Uruguay in June. During the interview, he was asked about obtaining a Spurs player’s shirt and replied, “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
An independent regulatory commission found the charge proven, leading to the immediate implementation of the suspension.
Bentancur will miss crucial Premier League fixtures against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton, and Liverpool, as well as Tottenham’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.
He will be eligible to return on Boxing Day for the match against Nottingham Forest. However, the ban does not extend to Europa League matches, allowing him to feature in Spurs’ continental campaign.
Impact on Spurs and Apologies Made
The ban comes as a setback for Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, who has relied on Bentancur in seven of the team’s 11 Premier League matches this season, including the last two.
The 27-year-old also played a pivotal role in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City last month.
Following the controversial remark, Bentancur apologised both privately to Son and publicly.
On social media, he posted: “Sonny brother! I am sorry for what happened, it was a joke in bad taste. You know that I love you and would never disrespect you, or hurt you or anyone. I love you brother!”
Son Heung-min, speaking in September, disclosed that Bentancur was deeply remorseful, saying the midfielder “almost cried” when offering his apology. “I love Rodrigo,” Son said. “We are all human and make mistakes. What matters is that we learn from them.”
Club Response
Spurs defender Ben Davies addressed the incident, acknowledging the team’s decision to move forward but emphasised the need for serious reflection.
“As a group, we’ve put a line under it and moved on,” Davies said. “But it’s important that we realise these kinds of matters need to be treated with the seriousness they deserve.”
The FA’s decision sends a clear message about the importance of eradicating discriminatory behaviour in football, as clubs and players continue to strive for inclusivity within the sport.
