Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur, is set for a minimum six-game ban by the Football Association (FA) over an alleged racist remark about his teammate Son Heung-min. The club has resigned to this outcome following charges against Bentancur for offensive comments made during a television interview.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan international was charged with an "aggravated breach" of FA rules in September. This charge stemmed from comments made during a television interview broadcast in Uruguay in June. When asked to provide a Tottenham shirt belonging to Son, Bentancur responded: “Sonny’s or a cousin of Sonny’s? They all look the same, more or less.”
Bentancur was subsequently charged by the FA with using abusive language and acting in such a way that brought disrepute to the game. The charges were considered aggravated due to their alleged references to nationality, race or ethnic origin.
Apologies and reactions
Following the broadcast of the interview, Bentancur promptly apologised privately to Son Heung-Min as well as issuing a public apology on social media platforms. Despite this incident, it appears that his relationship with Son remains unscathed; Tottenham's captain revealed that his teammate "almost cried" when apologising.
Tottenham Hotspur's midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur, said:
“Sonny brother! I am sorry for what happened, it was a joke in bad taste, You know that I love you and would never disrespect you, or hurt you or anyone. I love you brother!”
Tottenham initially questioned the FA's jurisdiction over charging Bentancur since he made these comments while on international duty. However, after an independent commission held a private hearing on this matter, they are now resigned to accepting what seems like an inevitable guilty verdict.
Implications of ban
In 2019, the FA increased its minimum sanction for racist language use from five matches up to six games. Given these regulations and considering their current situation,Tottenham fears that Bentancur could face even longer suspension than just six games. A lengthy ban would be a significant setback for Tottenham, especially for their manager Ange Postecoglou. Bentancur has been a key player this season, having participated in 10 out of 11 Premier League games so far.
The next six Premier League games for Tottenham are against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool. Additionally, they have a Carabao Cup quarter-final match against Manchester United next month. The absence of Bentancur in these crucial matches could potentially impact the team's performance.
While the club declined to comment on this situation publicly at present time, it is clear that such incidents highlight the importance of maintaining respect and understanding among players within diverse teams. It also underscores the FA's commitment to tackling racism and promoting inclusivity within football.
