The English Football Association (FA) has banned Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham Hotspur for seven games after the Uruguayan made a derogatory statement regarding South Koreans while discussing teammate Son Heung-min on television.
The FA claimed that the midfield player “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute” in a statement released on Monday.
Since it contained a reference, whether explicit or inferred, to nationality, race, and/or ethnic origin, it was further claimed that this constituted a “aggravated breach,” the statement continued.
When host Rafa Cotelo asked Bentancur for a Spurs player’s shirt in June on the Uruguayan television show Por La Camiseta, he said, “Sonny’s?” and added, “It might also be Sonny’s cousin.”
