Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has had his appeal against a seven-match ban rejected by an independent panel.
Bentancur was sanctioned by the Football Association last month, his suspension accompanied by a £100,000 fine, after comments he made about team-mate Son Heung-min in June.
He was found guilty of an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3.2, using abusive and/or insulting words with a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.
The Uruguay midfielder appeared on the television show Pro La Camiseta. Host Rafa Cotelo asked for a Spurs player’s shirt to which Bentancur replied by saying: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”
Tottenham and the player accepted the guilty verdict but appealed the severity of the sanction.
An independent Appeal Board has dismissed an appeal by Rodrigo Bentancur in relation to his recent suspension.
Full statement: https://t.co/Qz9P3HwD1r pic.twitter.com/AA1ZaCIkpS
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) December 17, 2024
Forest return still likely
However, the FA confirmed today the punishment will stand, meaning the 27-year-old, who has already missed games against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Southampton will remain sidelined for this week’s EFL Cup clash with Manchester United and the Premier League game with Liverpool.
His next league appearance is likely to come against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
Bentancur, who has been able to play in the Europa League as his ban applies to domestic games only, was described as an “outstanding person” by Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian said: “He understands he has made a mistake and is prepared to accept whatever penalty comes his way.
“As a club we are going to support him because, the one thing that is undeniable to me because I know him, he is an outstanding person, an unbelievable team-mate, a person of the utmost character who has made a mistake.”
