Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned for seven matches by the FA for using a racial slur about Spurs team-mate Son Heung-Min.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan international has been fined £100,000 and must complete a face-to-face education program.
Bentancur was charged in September after comments he made during a Uruguayan TV interview in June.
In a statement, the FA said: “Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing.”
As a result of the ban, the midfielder will be out of domestic action until Boxing Day. He will miss Spurs’ Premier League games with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as their League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.
But Bentancur will be eligible for European games, as the FA ban only applies to domestic competitions.
This is because although the incident happened in Uruguay, it was on Bentancur’s own time rather than on international duty. Because he plays in England, the FA have jurisdiction.
Conversely, the situation with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez took place while he was with the Argentina squad.
Fernandez posted a video of Argentina celebrating their Copa America victory, which allegedly included a ‘racist and discriminatory’ chant.
FIFA are currently investigating the Fernandez incident, after the French Football Federation brought forward the allegations.
What Slur Did Rodrigo Bentancur Say To Get Banned?
In the charges levied at Bentancur by the FA, he was said to have breached rule E3, relating to “misconduct in relation to a media interview”.
This was deemed an ‘aggravated breach’ by the FA as it “included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin”.
During the interview, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham shirt by the presenter.
In reply, he said: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
Bentancur later apologised for what he described as a “very bad joke”, and publicly apologised to Son.
Son Defended Bentancur Ahead Of Ban
Following the charges, South Korean forward Son confirmed he and Bentancur has settled the matter in private.
Son said: “I’ve spoken with Rodrigo Bentancur. He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised.
“Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers, and nothing has changed at all.
“We’re past this, we’re united, and we will be back together in pre-season to fight for our club as one.”
