Bentancur Suspended for Seven Matches Over Racial Slur Incident

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match domestic suspension by the Football Association (FA) for using a racial slur aimed at team-mate Son Heung-min.

The 27-year-old was also fined £100,000 and required to participate in a mandatory in-person education programme. The FA charged Bentancur in September following remarks he made on television in Uruguay in June.

“Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing,” the FA stated.

The suspension means Bentancur will miss several crucial fixtures, including Premier League matches against Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea, as well as Tottenham’s League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United. However, he will remain eligible for Spurs’ Europa League games.

Despite the ban, Bentancur has been a vital player for Tottenham this season, featuring in 15 matches and scoring his first goal of the campaign during a loss to Ipswich on November 11.

The FA’s jurisdiction over the incident stems from its occurrence during Bentancur’s personal time while under contract with an English club. This is distinct from the ongoing investigation into Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, who allegedly participated in a discriminatory chant during international duty. Fernandez’s case is being reviewed by FIFA under international regulations.