RODRIGO BENTANCUR is understood to have been banned for seven domestic games for a racist comment about Tottenham team-mate Son Heung-min.
The Uruguayan midfielder, 27, was charged by the FA back in September for an “aggravated breach” and faced a ban of between six and 12 matches.
Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned for seven games for comments about Son Heung-minRex
Bentancur apologised to captain Son after making the remarkGetty
.Bentancur made the comment in an interview with Uruguayan TV[/caption]
He has now learned the extent of his punishment which will mean he is unable to play until mid-December.
Back in June, Bentancur suggested that all South Korean people “look the same” during a Uruguayan TV interview.
A reporter asked: “Can you get me the shirt from the Korean?” to which Bentancur replied: “Sonny?”
The journalist then went on to say: “Or any other champion,” before the midfielder responded: “Or any cousin of Sonny, they all look more or less the same.”
He subsequently apologised to Spurs team-mate Son, who is South Korea’s captain, and issued a statement on social media claiming it was a “very bad” joke.
Son was quick to accept his apology and said: “He apologised straight afterwards when we [were on] holiday.
“I was at home, I didn’t even realise what was going on. He just sent me a long message, and you could feel it was coming from his heart.
“When we came back to the training ground for pre-season, he was really sorry and he almost cried.
Games Rodrigo Bentancur is set to miss
Premier League unless stated
Man City (A) – November 23
Fulham (H) – December 1
Bournemouth (A) – December 5
Chelsea (H) – December 8
Southampton (A) – December 15
Man Utd (H) – December 19 (Carabao Cup)
Liverpool (H) – December 22
“He apologised in public and personally as well. It felt like he was really sorry. We’re all human, we make mistakes, we learn from it. I love Rodrigo, I love him, I love him.
“He knows he made a mistake but I have no problem at all. We move on as a teammate, as a friend, as a brother. We move on together.”
Bentancur has scored one Premier League goal in 10 Premier League games this season
But Bentancur was charged by the FA who deemed the comment to include “a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin”.
The FA statement following Bentancur’s charge read: “Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged with an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview.
“It’s alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.
“It’s further alleged that this constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’ which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”
SunSport has approached the FA for comment.
The ban means Bentancur is set to miss Spurs’ Premier League games against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool – as well as their Carabao Cup quarter-final with Manchester United.
He will still be eligible to play in their Europa League games against Roma and Rangers.
Bentancur has started seven of Spurs’ 11 Premier League games so far this season, scoring one goal.
Premier League’s biggest bans
Joey Barton – 13 months for placing bets on 1,260 matches
Abel Xavier – 12 months for testing positive for anabolic steroid
Sandro Tonali – 10 months for breaching FA’s betting rules
Mark Bosnich – Nine months for testing positive for cocaine
Eric Cantona – Nine months for kung-fu kick on fan
Rio Ferdinand – Eight months for accidentally missing a scheduled drugs test
Ivan Toney – Eight months for 232 breaches of the FA’s betting laws
Adrian Mutu – Seven months for testing positive for cocaine
Kolo Toure – Six months for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance
Joey Barton – 12 games for in-game three-man assault
Paolo di Canio – 11 games for pushing a referee
David Prutton – 10 games for pushing a referee
Luis Suarez – 10 games for biting a player
Luis Suarez – Eight games for racial abuse
Aleksandar Mitrovic – Eight games for pushing a referee
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