Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur, has been handed a seven-match domestic suspension by the Football Association following an alleged racist comment made during a media interview with Canal 10.
The incident, which occurred in June, involved the Uruguayan international being asked to display the shirt of a Spurs player.
Bentancur responded by saying, “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.” This comment, perceived as racially insensitive, quickly drew criticism and led to an FA investigation.
On September 12, the FA charged Bentancur with breaching FA Rule E3 due to his use of “abusive and/or insulting words,” which brought the game into disrepute.
The comment was classified as an “aggravated breach” under FA Rule E3.2 because it included a reference to nationality and/or race, which the FA deemed unacceptable.
Despite Bentancur’s prompt apology, the matter was referred to an independent regulatory commission panel for further review.
The panel ultimately upheld the FA charge, leading to Bentancur being banned for seven domestic matches.
However, he will still be eligible to participate in Tottenham’s Europa League fixtures against Roma and Rangers. In addition to the suspension, the midfielder has been fined £100,000.
An FA spokesperson confirmed the decision, saying, “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.”
Bentancur denied the charge, but after the independent panel found the allegations to be substantiated, they imposed the sanctions.
Despite the controversy, Bentancur’s teammate, Heung-Min Son, publicly supported him, stating that the pair remained “brothers” and that “nothing had changed” between them. Son also acknowledged Bentancur’s apology, in which the Uruguayan admitted he had “made a mistake.”
