- Ange Postecoglou defended Spurs’ right to appeal Rodrigo Bentancur’s ban
- Bentancur has received a seven-match ban for using a racial insult
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Ange Postecoglou defended Tottenham’s right to appeal the seven-match ban imposed on Rodrigo Bentancur.
“I understand that nowadays people want to burn people at the stake,” Postecoglou said. “But part of this process, if we want true education and progress, is understanding that when someone makes a mistake and pays the penalty, part of that is education and hopefully treating it in the way that people see that that is a path to follow, whether it is Rodrigo or anyone else.
“I’m old enough in life to have made bigger mistakes than that, but I was allowed to learn from them and I hope to be a better human being because of it.”
Bentancur was banned for seven matches by the FA this week for making racist comments made on Uruguayan television in June, in the form of an ill-advised retort to Spurs captain Son Heung-min that all Koreans look the same.
The sanction against Manchester City will begin on Saturday, but Tottenham has lodged an appeal due to its severity, a measure that has generated criticism.
“I’m not interested in appearances,” Postecoglou said. —He said he made a mistake. We will accept any punishment that comes our way. We think the first one was a little harsh, that’s why we appealed, which I think is our right.
Ange Postecoglou defended Tottenham’s right to appeal Rodrigo Bentancur’s sanction
Bentancur was suspended seven games for a ‘racial insult’ against Son Heung-min
Bentancur made an ill-advised comment about Koreans while speaking on Uruguayan television
‘We still have a judicial process. That is why appeals exist. We will not go outside the jurisdiction, we will not try to create something that is not available to us. We think it was hard, we think it should have been the minimum and we will go through that process. If it is considered not, we will accept it.”
Bentancur will return to domestic action on Boxing Day at Nottingham Forest unless Spurs manage to reduce the ban. He can play in the Europa League.
Cristian Romero has also been ruled out for the game at City. Micky van de Van, Wilson Odobert, Richarlison and Mikey Moore are also out.