Bentancur of Tottenham has been banned for seven games because of racist speech about Son | Football News

The Uruguayan midfielder was found guilty of 'serious misconduct' for his comments about his South Korean team captain Son Heung-min.

Tottenham Hotspur's Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned for seven matches after the Uruguayan made racist remarks about South Koreans when he spoke about his team-mate Son Heung-min during a television appearance, the English Football Association (FA) said.

In a statement on Monday, the FA said the midfielder “acted inappropriately and/or used insulting and/or abusive language and/or brought the game into disrepute”.

“It was also alleged that this 'constituted serious infringement'… as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or national origin,” the statement added.

In June, on the Uruguayan television program Por La Camiseta, broadcaster Rafa Cotelo asked Bentancur about the Spurs player's shirt, to which he replied, “Sonny's?”, adding: “It could be Sonny's cousin as they all look the same.”

Bentancur later apologized on Instagram, saying it was “a terrible joke” and that he would “never disrespect you or hurt you”.

Son accepted the apology, saying his colleague had made a mistake and “didn't mean to say something offensive on purpose”.

“We are brothers and nothing has changed at all,” Son said in June. “We have come through this, we are united, and we will come back together before the season to fight for our club as one team.”

The independent commission also fined the player 100,000 pounds ($126,000). Punishment can be transferred.

The suspension covers domestic games only, meaning Bentancur, 27, will be available to play for his London club in the Europa League. Spurs will face Roma in the Champions League on November 28.

The FA also ordered Bentancur to attend a “face-to-face education programme”, details of which will be provided later. The course must be completed by March 11 next year.

“If a player fails to complete the program satisfactorily within that period, he will be immediately suspended from all domestic football until the mandatory program has been completed,” the FA said.

Tottenham and Bentancur did not react immediately to the penalty.