Rodrigo Bentancur (in white) fights for the ball with Vinicius Junior during a World Cup qualifying match on Nov. 19, 2024. Photo by AFP
Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur paid a heavy price for his comments about Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min on Uruguayan television in June.
The controversy started from an interview Bentancur gave on the Uruguayan show “Por La Camiseta” in June. Bentancur was asked to give away a Tottenham jersey, to which he responded: “Sonny’s or a cousin of Sonny’s? They all look the same, more or less.”
The FA charged Bentancur with using abusive language and acting in a manner that brought damages to the sport, adding that it allegedly involved references to nationality, race or ethnic origin.
On Tuesday, after a hearing, the FA handed the Uruguayan midfielder a seven-match ban and a $130,000 fine.
Bentancur, who joined Tottenham in 2022 after stints with Boca Juniors and Juventus, has contributed 8 goals and 8 assists in 84 appearances for the club. He has also represented Uruguay in 65 games, including the 2018 and 2022 World Cup and two Copa America.
After the incident in the summer, Bentancur apologized publicly and personally to Son Heung-min. In response, the Tottenham captain said he has forgiven Bentancur and that his teammate almost cried when he apologized, Goal reported.
“We’re all human and make mistakes, and we learn from it. But I love Rodrigo. I love him, I love him. You know, he made a mistake. But I have no problem at all. At all.”
Last season, Son Heung-min was racially abused several times while playing for Tottenham. A Crystal Palace fan was banned from football for three years for this action.
While playing for Man Utd, Bentancur’s fellow striker Edinson Cavani was banned for three matches and fined $130,000 for using the word “negrito” on social media. The FA accused Cavani of using discriminatory language.
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