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Rodrigo Bentancur charged by the FA over Son Heung-min comments

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged by the FA
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged by the FA over his comments regarding Son Heung-min following a controversial interview this summer.

During a televised interview ahead of the Copa America, the Spurs midfielder attempted to make a joke when a reporter asked for a shirt from one of his team-mates. The reporter asked: "Can you get me the shirt from the Korean?" to which Bentancur asked "Sonny?" and the journalist said "Or any other champion?". Bentancur replied: "Or any cousin of Sonny, they all look more or less the same!" to which the reporter replied "Yes, of course!!"

A statement from the FA on Thursday read: "Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged with an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview.

"It’s alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.

"It’s further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach” which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

"Rodrigo Bentancur has until Thursday 19 September 2024 to provide a response to this charge."

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Bentancur's comment was taken as a racial slur and sparked outrage throughout the Korean community and outside of it, and Kick It Out, the organisation which seeks to end racism and discrimination in sport, said at the time that it had "received a significant number of reports about Rodrigo Bentancur's comments regarding his Tottenham team-mate Son Heung-min.

"These reports have already been sent to the club and relevant authorities. We recognise Bentancur has acknowledged the offence caused, however it highlights a wider issue that heavily affects East Asian and wider communities. We’ll be seeking to address these broader issues in the coming season".

While Bentancur can play in the mean time, after speaking to the FA football.london understands that match-based sanctions of six to 12 games are recommended to regulatory commissions for almost all 'aggravated breaches' of FA Rule E3 that are a first offence by individual participants.

The Spurs midfielder has the opportunity to accept or deny the charge. If he accepts, the commission will go on to decide on sanction or sanctions. If Bentancur denies it, the commission will decide whether to uphold or dismiss the charge, and if the former they would also decide the sanction or sanctions.

Bentancur posted two apologies on Instagram in the days after the interview, the second of which read: "I would like to communicate to all fans and everyone who follows us that after my interview where I referred to Son and no one else, I have spoken to him and, logically given our deep friendship, he understands it was only an unfortunate misunderstanding. All has been clarified and solved with my friend.

"If someone felt offended because of my words through this media tool I would like to offer my sincere apologies. But I also would like you to know that never, never I referred to anyone else. Only to Son and for that reason I’ve never had the intention to offend directly or indirectly anyone. A big hug and all my respect to everyone."

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Son had responded with his own statement on the matter in an Instagram Story post, saying: "I've spoken with Lolo. He made a mistake, he knows this and has apologised. Lolo would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive. We are brothers and nothing has changed at all.

"We're past this, we're united, and we will be back together in pre season to fight for our club as one. Sonny."

Spurs also released a statement that same day, saying: "Following a comment from Rodrigo Bentancur in an interview video clip and the player’s subsequent public apology, the club has been providing assistance in ensuring a positive outcome on the matter. This will include further education for all players in line with our diversity, equality and inclusion objectives.

"We fully support that our captain Sonny feels that he can draw a line under the incident and that the team can focus on the new season ahead. We are extremely proud of our diverse, global fanbase and playing squads. Discrimination of any kind has no place at our club, within our game or within wider society."

Bentancur is currently serving a four-match ban from international football after being sanctioned by CONMEBOL following the scenes after July’s heated Copa America semi-final tie against Colombia, in which he was seen to throw bottles into the crowd. He was also handed a $16,000 (£12,000) fine for his part in the scenes.

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