Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur banned and fined £100,000 for alleged racist slur against teammate Son Heung-min

NEW DELHI: Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match domestic ban and fined £100,000 ($126,000) by the Football Association (FA) for an alleged racist remark made about his teammate Son Heung-min during a TV interview in Uruguay.

The incident occurred in June when Bentancur was asked by a presenter for a Spurs player's shirt. He responded, "Sonny's? It could be Sonny's cousin too as they all look the same."

The FA charged Bentancur in September for an alleged breach of its rules, deeming the remark an "aggravated breach" that included a reference to nationality, race, or ethnic origin.

Bentancur denied the charge, but an independent regulatory commission panel upheld it after a hearing.

As a result, the 27-year-old Uruguayan will miss Tottenham's next seven domestic fixtures, including Premier League matches against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool, as well as the League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.

However, he will be eligible to play in Europa League matches.

Son Heung-min, the South Korean international, stated that Bentancur had apologized to him immediately after the incident, and he accepted the apology.

"He apologised straight afterwards when we had holiday. I was at home. I didn't even realise what was going on. He sent me a long message and you could feel it was coming from his heart," he said.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou also mentioned that Bentancur had acknowledged his mistake and pleaded for leniency.

The FA's decision highlights the governing body's stance against discriminatory behaviour and its commitment to promoting equality and respect within the sport.

Bentancur's ban and fine serve as a reminder of the consequences of such actions and the importance of upholding ethical standards in professional football.