- Rodrigo Bentancur has been informed that he has until September 19 to respond
- Bentancur made the comment that asked for Son Hueng-Min’s shirt on Uruguayan TV
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Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is facing a suspension after being charged with misconduct by the Football Association in relation to his comments about the appearance of South Koreans in June.
The Spurs midfielder made the bizarre comment during an interview with Uruguayan television when he was asked for captain Son Heung-Min’s shirt.
Bentancur responded to the question by telling the interviewer that he should get a shirt from Son’s cousin because “they all look the same.”
The 27-year-old has since apologized but has been told he has until Thursday, September 19 to respond.
Bentancur is cleared to face Arsenal in this weekend’s north London derby, whether guilty or not.
Rodrigo Bentancur could face a ban after being charged by the FA with an ‘aggravated offence’
Bentancur (left) appeared to suggest that South Koreans “are all the same” during a television interview
Bentancur has since issued an apology to his team-mate and Spurs captain Son Heung-min (left).
An FA statement said: ‘Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged with an alleged breach of FA rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview.
‘The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is alleged to have breached FA rule E3.1 by acting inappropriately and/or using abusive and/or insulting words and/or bringing the game into disrepute.
‘It is further alleged that this constituted an ‘aggravated breach’ as defined in FA Rule E3.2 as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.’
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out revealed it received a “significant number” of complaints after the comment was broadcast on Channel 10.
Bentancur took to Instagram to apologize amid a backlash to his comments.
“Brother, son! I apologize for what happened. It was just a joke in very bad taste,” Bentancur wrote. “You know I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you, brother!”
Edinson Cavani, who was playing for Manchester United at the time, was given a three-match ban and £100,000 fine in 2020 after using the word “negrito” in a social media post.
Former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani has been banned for three matches for using the word ‘negrito’ on social media in 2020
Bentancur would miss the games against Brentford, United and Brighton if he received a similar sanction.
The striker sent the message to a friend via an Instagram story after scoring twice against Southampton in the Red Devils’ 3-2 win.
If Bentancur is found guilty and given a similar ban, he could miss games against Brentford, United and Brighton, all in the Premier League.
