Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been given a seven-match ban for an alleged racist comment made about South Korean teammate Son Heung-min in a TV interview.
Bentancur, 27, was charged by the Soccer Affiliation on 12 September after an interview on the Uruguayan TV channel Canal 10 in June that confirmed the midfielder being requested by the host to point out the shirt of a Spurs participant.
The previous Juventus participant replied: “Sonny’s? It might be Sonny’s cousin too as all of them look the identical.”
He swiftly apologised to Son on Instagram, saying it was a “very unhealthy joke” and he would “by no means disrespect you or damage you”.
Son, Tottenham’s captain, accepted his apology, saying that his teammate had made a mistake and “wouldn’t imply to ever deliberately say one thing offensive”.
“We’re brothers and nothing has modified in any respect,” Son stated in June. “We’re previous this, we’re united, and we will probably be again collectively in pre-season to battle for our membership as one.”
However attributable to this being an “aggravated breach”, an unbiased regulatory fee panel have been required to both uphold the FA cost or dismiss the case.
Bentancur was fined £100,0000 and can sit out Tottenham’s subsequent seven home fixtures, however will be capable to function for the membership in upcoming Europa League matches with Roma and Rangers.
He’ll miss the Premier League recreation in opposition to Manchester Metropolis away on Saturday, in addition to residence clashes in opposition to Liverpool and Chelsea in December. Bentancur can even miss the League Cup quarter-final in opposition to Manchester United.
Bentancur ordered to attend ‘face-to-face schooling programme’
In addition to the tremendous and seven-match ban, the FA ordered Bentancur to attend a “face-to-face schooling programme”, particulars of which will probably be supplied later. The course ought to be accomplished by 11 March subsequent 12 months.
“If the participant fails to finish the programme satisfactorily in that interval, he will probably be instantly suspended from all home membership soccer till such time because the necessary programme is accomplished,” the FA stated.
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Tottenham midfielder ‘introduced recreation into disrepute’
In its assertion, the FA added: “It was alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper method and/or used abusive and/or insulting phrases and/or introduced the sport into disrepute.
“It was additional alleged that this constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’, which is outlined in FA Rule E3.2, because it included a reference – whether or not specific or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.
“Rodrigo Bentancur denied this cost, however the unbiased regulatory fee discovered it to be confirmed and imposed his sanctions following a listening to.”
Tottenham and Bentancur didn’t instantly reply to the choice.
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