Rodrigo Bentancur is facing a lengthy suspension after the English FA found him guilty of making a racist comment about South Korean people while discussing Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min on television.
Softfootball understands the comment came during a June appearance on Uruguayan program Por La Camiseta, when host Rafa Cotelo asked Bentancur for a Spurs player’s shirt. Bentancur replied:
Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.
The FA didn’t hold back in its ruling, stating that Bentancur
acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute;
adding that the breach was aggravated by its reference to nationality, race, or ethnic origin, a factor that pushed the punishment well beyond a standard misconduct charge.
This isn’t the first time Bentancur has faced scrutiny for off-the-cuff comments; he was previously banned by the FA in 2023 for an Instagram post referencing Son during the same period.
Tottenham are yet to issue a public statement on the latest sanction, though the club is expected to work closely with Bentancur on educational measures as part of the ban.
The seven-match suspension leaves a significant gap in Tottenham’s squad depth at a demanding point in the season, with the club now needing to manage without one of its more experienced midfield options across a run of fixtures that includes both league and cup commitments.
