Bentancur Slapped With Seven-Game Ban For Racial Remark About Son
Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-game ban by the Football Association for using a racial slur on teammate Son Heung-Min.
Bentancur committed the offense during a TV interview in his native Uruguay back in June.
Bentancur was charged by the FA on September 12 with an alleged misconduct breach in relation to a media interview, which emerged in June and showed Bentancur being asked by the host of Canal 10 to show the shirt of a Spurs player.
Former Juventus player Bentancur replied: "Sonny's? It could be Sonny's cousin too as they all look the same."
Bentancur swiftly issued an apology but the FA saw the need to issue him with a lengthy ban.
The FA's statement read: "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."
Bentancur will miss matches against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United during his period of absence but will be eligible to feature for Spurs in the Europa League as the ban applies to only domestic games.
