“Tottenham Star Rodrigo Bentancur Banned for 7 Matches Over Shocking Racist Comment About Son…
Bengaluru – Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match ban after making a racist comment about South Korean people while discussing his teammate, Son Heung-min, during a television appearance. The Football Association (FA) announced the ban on Monday.
Bentancur initially denied the accusation, but an independent regulatory commission concluded that the charge was substantiated and imposed a seven-match suspension along with a £100,000 fine. The FA stated that Bentancur had “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive or insulting language, bringing the game into disrepute.”
The governing body also noted that the incident was considered an “aggravated breach” due to the reference to Son’s nationality, race, or ethnic background.
The controversy arose during an appearance on the Uruguayan TV show Por La Camiseta in June. When asked by host Rafa Cotelo if he could have Son Heung-min’s shirt, Bentancur responded, “Sonny’s?” before adding, “Or one of Sonny’s cousins, as they all look more or less the same.”
The FA first charged the 27-year-old Bentancur in September. Son later clarified that there was no ill-feeling between the two players, and Bentancur had apologized in June after the video clip of the exchange circulated widely online.
The regulatory commission noted that Bentancur initially expressed remorse and took responsibility for his actions, offering a full apology. However, it criticized his subsequent decision to deny the charge, stating that it undermined his initial apology, which had been viewed as genuine.
Bentancur, who played in Uruguay’s 3-2 win over Colombia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Saturday, will be available for Tottenham’s Europa League fixtures but will not return to domestic action until December 26. His ban will see him miss key Premier League matches, including the away game against Manchester City on Saturday and home fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea in December. Additionally, Bentancur will be absent for the League Cup quarterfinal against Manchester United.
