Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur hit with seven-game ban for comments on teammate Son Heung-min
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-game ban and a £100,000 fine by the FA for his comments on teammate Son Heung-min during a Spanish-language interview on Uruguayan television in June.
The Uruguayan international conceded it was a “very bad joke” and apologized on his official Instagram account, with Son Heung-min accepting his confession. Despite the apology, the central midfielder will now be unavailable for Ange Postecoglou’s side due to being found guilty of an “aggravated breach” by an independent regulatory commission panel.
Rodrigo Bentancur will now miss the Lilywhites’ Premier League fixtures against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool. He will also be banned for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 19 before returning to the league against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
The 27-year-old is free to participate in the Europa League games against AS Roma and Rangers. John Wenham—the owner of the reputable Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose—is frustrated by the timing of Bentancur’s ban. The club insider is yet to comprehend why it has taken so long for the FA to punish the midfielder.
“This kills us because he is in such great form,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.
“He is banned for seven matches, which includes some massive games. It is beyond frustrating that Spurs are facing the consequences now, the busiest period of the season, for something that happened in the summer.
“There are games essentially every three days during December, and you need your genuine top-level players. Therefore, to lose Bentancur is a massive blow.”
Indeed, Bentancur was in good form and showing signs of returning to his old self. The South American’s career at Tottenham hasn’t been plain sailing, owing to injury problems and off-field issues. When it looked like he had put everything behind him, the Nueva Helvecia-born talent has been slapped with a lengthy ban.
It is a massive blow to lose a player of Bentancur’s class, quality and experience at such a crucial juncture of the season when games are set to come thick and fast. Tottenham have not enjoyed a strong start to their Premier League campaign and to not enjoy the services of a seasoned-campaigner like Bentancur for a month could cost us dearly.
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The Uruguayan international committed a mistake and has been punished for it. However, it is the timing of the punishment that certainly raises questions, especially when he was charged by the FA back in September.
Thus, the timing of the judgement seems particularly unforgiving on Big Ange given how taxing Spurs’ fixture schedule is after the end of November’s international break.
