- Rodrigo Bentancur made an alleged racist remark about South Koreans on TV
- The Spurs star was charged by the FA with an ‘aggravated breach’ of their rules
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The Football Association are set to hit Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur with a lengthy ban for making an alleged racist remark about South Koreans while on Uruguayan TV.
Multiple sources have told Mail Sport the midfielder is likely to receive a seven match ban – but that figure is unconfirmed.
Nevertheless, Bentancur is set to miss a lengthy period for Ange Postecoglou’s side in what will arrive as a major blow to Spurs.
Appearing on the show in his homeland in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, ‘Sonny’s?’ – referencing his team-mate Son Heung-min.
He then added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because ‘more or less they are all the same.’
Rodrigo Bentancur will face a lengthy ban for an alleged racist remark about South Koreans
Bentancur made the racist remark when he was asked about team-mate Son Heung-Min
The news comes as a blow for Ange Postecoglou, who has relied on Bentancur this season
The FA confirmed earlier this year that they charged the South American for an ‘aggravated breach’ of their rules.
And the FA are now close to confirming Bentancur’s punishment.
Bentancur has played an important role for Postecoglou this campaign, featuring in 10 of Tottenham’s 11 Premier League games so far, starting seven.
The only league match the Uruguayan has missed this season was Spurs’ home clash with Everton on the second weekend, when Postecoglou’s side triumphed 4-0.
Son, Tottenham’s captain, revealed that team-mate Bentancur was close to tears when he apologised over the alleged racial slur.
‘At the moment because of the FA process I can’t say much about it,’ said Son in September. ‘But I love Rodrigo, I love him. We’ve a lot of good memories since we started playing together when he joined.
‘He knew and he apologised straight afterwards. We were on holiday. I was at home. I didn’t even realise what was going on when he sent me a long message and you could feel it was coming from his heart.
‘When we came back for pre-season he felt really sorry, and almost cried when he apologised publicly and personally as well. He felt like he was really sorry. We are all human and all make mistakes and we learn from it.’
More to follow.
