Tottenham have appealed against the length of Rodrigo Bentancur’s seven-match ban for using a racial slur about 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.
The midfielder won’t be able to play any domestic football 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.
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.
Full statement: https://t.co/dr5Jw7Fwhq pic.twitter.com/yhJ2mhOPtC
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) November 18, 2024
Tottenham Explain Decision To Appeal Ban
Tottenham in a statement on their social media channels insisted they won’t appeal the guilty verdict given against Rodrigo Bentancur which led to his ban.
However, they feel as though the sanction imposed on their player was ‘severe’.
Their statement read: “We can confirm that the Club has appealed against the length of Rodrigo Bentancur’s FA suspension, issued earlier this week.
“While we accept the guilty finding against Rodrigo by the independent regulatory commission, we believe the subsequent sanction is severe.
“Rodrigo will remain suspended from domestic competitions while the appeal is heard and the Club will make no further comment during this time.”
What Slur Did Rodrigo Bentancur Say To Get Banned?
In the charges levied at Rodrigo Bentancur by the FA which led to his ban, 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.
Before the ban was handed out, South Korean forward Son confirmed he and Rodrigo Bentancur 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.”
