Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for a long time. © ANSA / TOLGA AKMEN

Saying against teammates: Tottenham professional banned for a long time

Uruguayan Tottenham professional Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned from seven matches at national level by the English Football Association (FA) for a remark classified as racist.

18 November 2024

From: dpa/det

He also has to pay a fine of around 120.000 euros. The 27-year-old will not be available to Spurs in the league again until the end of December.

In June, Bentancur joked in a TV interview in his home country about his South Korean teammate Heung-Min Son, saying that he couldn't be distinguished from his cousin: "They all look the same." The interview was not published until September. The FA then launched an investigation into serious misconduct.

Bentancur had already apologized publicly and to his teammate Son, but rejected the accusation of racism. The Uruguayan described his remark as a "very bad joke" and stressed that he would "never intentionally say anything hurtful." The ban only applies at national level. Bentancur is available to his club for the upcoming Europa League games against AS Roma and Glasgow Rangers.