Tottenham rivals ‘shocked’ by severity of Rodrigo Bentancur seven-match racism ban

Tottenham’s Premier League rivals have been left shocked by the Football Association’s decision to ban Rodrigo Bentancur for seven matches over a racist remark he made about team-mate Son Heung-min.

Telegraph Sport understands the length of the ban and the process has surprised sources at some rival clubs of Spurs, together with perceived inconsistencies over punishments handed to other players for racist offences.

There is a belief that Tottenham and Bentancur have been made an example of and that the player’s own apology, together with the backing of Son, has been used against him.

Tottenham have the right to appeal the verdict and are considering their next steps. The club has not commented on the ban, although there is thought to be some bewilderment and frustration around it.

Bentancur was banned for seven games and fined £100,000 for suggesting in a YouTube interview in Uruguay that Son was indistinguishable in looks from other South Koreans.

Bentancur was being interviewed during a tour of his home when Uruguayan journalist Rafa Cotelo asked: “Well, what about the Korean’s shirt?”

After questioning whether the journalist was asking about “Sonny”, Bentancur then added: “Or one of Sonny’s cousins as they all look more or less the same.”

Following charges in September, a panel found that he had shown “genuine remorse” but he should have “foreseen substantial publicity” in making the abusive joke.

The FA introduced a minimum six-game ban for racist abuse five years ago, but the severity of Bentancur’s suspension has still caused shock at some Premier League clubs amid questions over perceived inconsistencies.

Enzo Fernandez and Rodri escaped FA investigations over comments made while on international duty this summer. Bernardo Silva was given a one-game ban in 2019 for a tweet involving his former Manchester City team-mate Benjamin Mendy. Edison Cavani was banned for three games in 2021 over a social media post in which he used the term “negrito”.

Under FA rules published in 2020, sanctioning guidelines allow regulatory commissions to apply a ban below the minimum six games where an offence is “in writing only or via any communication device” and another specific mitigating factor is present.

The fact Bentancur’s offence came via a spoken interview on YouTube meant that he could not receive a punishment under the six-game ban. But it has been pointed out to Telegraph Sport that the interview was seen by most people after being widely shared on social media, which has prompted questions over whether or not it should be treated differently to the offences of Bernardo and Cavani.

In the written reasons for Bentancur’s ban, it is stated that: “His first apology, drafted without consultation with THFC or any other adviser and posted the day after the film had been brought to his attention, explained it as “just a very bad joke” (although in his statement, he said that “sarcastic” would have been a better word than “joke”). That suggests that the player himself realised what he had said was offensive, and was anxious to correct it as soon as possible. His second apology equally appears to have acknowledged that his remarks had been objectively offensive, which is why he apologised for offence caused.”

It then added: “In these apologies (particularly the first), the player appears to realise and accept that his remarks were objectively insulting and/or abusive and this offensive, and apologise for the offence he has caused to Heung-Min Son and those who share his characteristics of nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”

Sources outside Tottenham have expressed surprise to Telegraph Sport that Bentancur’s own attempt at an apology would be effectively used against him, particularly when English is not the Uruguay international’s first language.

Son defends Bentancur

Similarly, the fact the written reasons refer to support from Son as further evidence that Bentancur accepted his remarks were insulting has been noted with an element of astonishment.

In the written reasons, it is stated that: “The statements made by Heung-Min Son (see paragraphs 13 and 15 above). These again appear to be premised on the player’s remarks having been objectively offensive, and regarded by both Heung-Min Son and the player himself as such.

“For example, Heung-Min Son is reported as saying: “I’ve spoken with Lolo. He made a mistake. He knows this and has apologised.” And: “He knew. He apologised straight afterwards when he had holiday.... We are all human and all make mistakes and we learn from it.”

Son had been keen to try to help Bentancur and wanted to speak up in his defence, saying: “Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all.

“When we came back for pre-season, he [Bentancur] felt sorry and he almost cried when he apologised publicly and personally as well. He felt like he was really sorry.”

Sir Gary Hickinbottom, who led an independent regulatory commission panel, said it remained a straightforward case to impose a seven-match suspension plus £100,000 fine on Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 – acting in “an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute”.

It was further found proven that his comments constituted an “aggravated breach”, as they included a reference to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

Bentancur was also instructed to attend an educational course and the panel chair added: “We consider that sanction, when looked at as a whole, is in all the circumstances reasonable and proportionate to the breach we have found proved.”

Fernandez, who has captained Chelsea since his incident, was filmed chanting racist and homophobic slurs about the France team while on international duty with Argentina.

But because Fernandez was with Argentina at the Copa America when the incident occurred, the FA say it fell under the jurisdiction of Fifa. When contacted by Telegraph Sport in September, Fifa said the matter was being investigated by Conmebol, who are yet to respond to an enquiry over its progress made on Monday.

Why did Enzo Fernandez and Rodri escape bans?

After a summer of discrimination cases against the likes of Fernandez and Rodri, only Bentancur faces an FA ban – because of timing.

The FA had been powerless to go after either the Chelsea or Manchester City midfielder because their cases took place while on international duty.

The Bentancur interview emerged within weeks of those other cases but, as it took place officially “on his own time”, the FA was able to pursue a case against him as “a participant in English football”.

Fifa, instead, launched investigations after France complained over a video of Fernandez allegedly singing a racist and transphobic chant following Argentina’s Copa America triumph. First sung by Argentina fans during the 2022 World Cup, the chant claims that France’s players are “all from Angola” and making crude insults and wild accusations about Kylian Mbappe’s sexuality.

Rodri and Alvaro Morata, meanwhile, were each banned for one Spain match by Uefa for chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish” during celebrations in Madrid for the victory against England in the Euro 2024 final.