Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur faces a seven-match domestic suspension and a £100,000 fine after being found guilty of making a racial slur about his teammate Heung-Min Son.
The incident occurred during an interview in Uruguay in June.
FA’s Decision and Statement
The Football Association (FA) charged Bentancur under FA Rule E3 for using improper, abusive, or insulting language, which included a reference to nationality or race, qualifying it as an “aggravated breach.”
Although Bentancur denied the allegations, an independent Regulatory Commission upheld the charge and imposed the sanctions.
The FA stated:
“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 further alleged that this constitutes an ‘aggravated breach,’ as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”
The Incident
During the interview, Bentancur was asked about football shirts he had collected.
When asked if he had “the Korean’s shirt,” he responded, “Sonny? Or one of Sonny’s cousins as they all look more or less the same.” This comment was deemed racially insensitive by the FA.
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Bentancur argued his remark was sarcastic and a rebuke to the interviewer’s reference to Son’s nationality, but the Commission dismissed this defense.
Public Apologies
Bentancur quickly apologized after the incident. He posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Sony brother! I apologise to you for what happened, it was just a very bad joke! You know I love you and would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you brother! @hm_son7.”
A longer apology followed on Instagram:
“I want to communicate to all fans that after my interview where I referred to Son and no one else, I have spoken to him, and he understands it was an unfortunate misunderstanding.
If anyone felt offended by my words, I offer my sincere apologies. I never intended to offend anyone directly or indirectly.”
Son accepted the apology, stating:
“Lolo made a mistake and has apologised.
He would never intentionally say something offensive.
We are brothers, and nothing has changed.
We’re united and ready to fight for our club together.”
Impact on Tottenham
Bentancur will miss six Premier League matches, including critical fixtures against Manchester City and Liverpool, and the EFL Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.
However, he remains eligible to compete in the UEFA Europa League.
Additionally, Bentancur is required to attend an FA-mandated education program before March 2025 as part of the sanctions.
