Tottenham Hotspur is preparing to appeal the length of midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur’s seven-game ban, imposed following his controversial comments about teammate Son Heung-min during an interview with a Uruguayan journalist. While the club does not contest the ruling itself, it hopes to reduce the suspension.
Background of the Incident
The controversy arose from an interview Bentancur gave in Uruguay, during which he made a remark interpreted as racially insensitive. The midfielder later apologized publicly and privately to Son, who accepted the apology. However, the Football Association (FA) deemed the comments a breach of its rules, leading to the ban, a £100,000 fine, and a mandatory education program.
Details of the Ban and Tottenham’s Appeal
The current suspension means Bentancur will miss six Premier League games and a Carabao Cup quarter-final, though he remains eligible for Europa League fixtures. Tottenham is set to challenge the length of the ban, arguing that it falls at the lower end of the FA’s guideline for aggravated breaches. If successful, Bentancur could return for the critical match against Liverpool on December 22.
FA Rules and Mitigating Factors
Under FA rules introduced in 2020, bans can be reduced below the six-game minimum if offenses occur in written or digital communication and specific mitigating factors are present. However, since Bentancur’s remarks were made in a spoken interview shared online, this exception does not apply.
What’s Next?
Tottenham hopes to reduce the suspension as it works to ensure a stronger squad for upcoming fixtures. The case has sparked discussions on the complexities of interpreting intent and enforcing guidelines in such incidents.
