Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has rejected his appeal against a seven-match ban.
Last month, the English Football Association punished Bentancur with a suspension and a fine of 100,000 pounds sterling, after comments he made about his colleague Son Heung-min in June.
He was found guilty of a serious breach of FA Rule E3.2, using abusive and/or insulting words with reference – whether express or implied – to nationality, race and/or ethnic origin.
The Uruguayan midfielder appeared on the TV show Pro La Camiseta. Host Rafa Cotelo asked for the Tottenham player's shirt, and Bentancur responded by saying: “Sonny? He could be Sonny's cousin too because they all look alike.”
Tottenham and the player accepted the guilty verdict, but appealed the severity of the punishment.
An independent appeals panel rejected Rodrigo Bentancur's appeal in relation to his recent suspension.
Full statement: https://t.co/Qz9P3HwD1r pic.twitter.com/AA1ZaCIkpS
– Official spokesperson for the FA (@FAspokesperson) December 17, 2024
Forest return is still possible
However, the FA today confirmed that the ban will remain in place, meaning the 27-year-old, who has already missed matches against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Southampton, will remain out of this week's FA Cup tie with Manchester United and the Premier League. League match with Liverpool.
His next league appearance is likely to come against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
Bentancur, who was able to play in the Europa League as his ban only applies to domestic matches, was described by Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou as a “special person”.
The Australian said: “He realizes he made a mistake and is ready to accept any punishment that comes his way.
He added: “As a club, we will support him, because the one thing that is undeniable to me because I know him, is an amazing person, an incredible teammate, a person of the utmost character who made a mistake.”
