Tottenham Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur Handed Seven-Game Ban for Racial Slur Against Heung-Min Son

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-game domestic ban and a £100,000 fine by the Football Association (FA) for making a racial slur against his teammate Heung-Min Son. The incident stemmed from a media interview in June where Bentancur, when asked to show the shirt of a Spurs player, made a comment suggesting that Son and his cousins “all look the same”.

The FA charged Bentancur with an alleged misconduct breach under FA Rule E3.1 for acting in an improper manner and using abusive and insulting words, which also constituted an “aggravated breach” due to its reference to nationality, race, or ethnic origin. Despite Bentancur’s denial of the charge and his apology, calling it a “very bad joke,” the independent Regulatory Commission found the charge proven and imposed the sanctions.

Bentancur will miss Tottenham’s next seven domestic fixtures but will be eligible to play in upcoming Europa League matches against Roma and Rangers. Heung-Min Son has accepted Bentancur’s apology, stating that their relationship remains unchanged.

The sanctions were announced on November 18, 2024, and include a detailed explanation from the FA on the breach of their rules. This incident highlights the strict stance the FA takes on racial and discriminatory behavior in football.

Tottenham’s upcoming schedule will see them face several challenging matches without Bentancur, including games against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton, Manchester United, and Liverpool.