Tottenham’s Bentancur banned for seven games over racist remark about Son
Al Jazeera
Uruguayan midfielder found guilty of ‘aggravated breach’ in comments about his South Korean club captain Son Heung-min.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned for seven matches after the Uruguayan made a racist remark about South Korean people when talking about teammate Son Heung-min during a television appearance, the English Football Association (FA) has said.
In a statement on Monday, the FA said the midfielder “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’… as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin,” the statement added.
In June, on Uruguayan television programme Por La Camiseta, host Rafa Cotelo asked Bentancur for a Spurs player’s shirt, to which he replied, “Sonny’s?”, adding: “It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
Bentancur apologized later on Instagram, saying it was a “very bad joke” and he would “never disrespect you or hurt you”.
