Rodrigo Bentancur has finally had his FA ban confirmed for racist remarks he said about Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min. The Uruguayan has been handed a seven-game ban as well as a £100,000 fine by an independent regulatory commission.
Bentancur was charged after a televised interview in South America in the summer. During the interview, the reporter asked: "Can you get me the shirt from the Korean?" to which Bentancur asked "Sonny?" and the journalist said "Or any other champion?". Bentancur replied: "Or any cousin of Sonny, they all look more or less the same!" to which the reporter replied "Yes, of course!!"
The FA delivered the news of the ban on Monday with a statement which read: "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 alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute. It was further alleged that this constitutes an "aggravated breach", which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.
"Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing."
Bentancur has been an integral part of Ange Postecoglou's midfield this season, missing just one Premier League match through concussion. But Postecoglou will now be without the Uruguayan until after Christmas, following the news of the seven-match suspension.
He will return for the Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Forest, but misses huge games against Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and the Carabao Cup quarter-final with Manchester United.
The games Bentancur will miss:
Saturday, November 23 - Man City (A)
Sunday, December 1 - Fulham (H)
Thursday, December 5 - Bournemouth (A)
Sunday, December 8 - Chelsea (H)
Sunday, December 15 - Southampton (A)
Thursday, December 19 - Manchester United (H) - Carabao Cup quarter-final
Sunday, December 22 - Liverpool (H)