The FA charged Bentancur on September 12 for alleged misconduct related to a media interview from June. In the clip, Bentancur was asked by the host of Canal 10 to display the shirt of a Spurs player. The former Juventus star responded by saying, “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too, as they all look the same.”
Bentancur issued a prompt apology, but because the remark was deemed an “aggravated breach,” an independent regulatory commission had to decide whether to uphold the charge. The panel ultimately sided with the FA, confirming the suspension.
As a result, Bentancur will miss Tottenham’s next seven domestic games but will still be available for their Europa League matches against Roma and Rangers.
An FA spokesperson stated: “An independent regulatory commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and a £100,000 fine on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 related to a media interview.
“The Tottenham midfielder was found to have acted improperly and used abusive and insulting language that brought the game into disrepute. The breach was aggravated as it included a reference to nationality, race, or ethnic origin.
“Bentancur denied the charge, but the independent panel found it to be proven and imposed these sanctions after a hearing.”
