TOTTENHAM midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged by the FA over his recent comments about Heung-min Son.
Back in June, the 27-year-old suggested that all South Korean people “look the same” during a Uruguayan TV interview.
A reporter asked: “Can you get me the shirt from the Korean?” to which Bentancur replied: “Sonny?”
The journalist then went on to say: “Or any other champion,” before the midfielder responded: “Or any cousin of Sonny, they all look more or less the same.”
He subsequently apologised to Spurs team-mate Son and issued a statement on social media, claiming it was a “very bad” joke.
Bentancur said: “Sony brother! I apologise to you for what happened, it was just a very bad joke!
“You know that I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you brother.”
Despite Bentancur’s apology, the FA have made the decision to charge him.
A statement 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.”
The midfielder now has until Thursday, September 19 to respond to the charge.
Anti-discrimination campaigners Kick it Out received “a significant number of reports” over the incident when it happened and sent them to Spurs and the relevant authorities.
Tottenham went on to release a statement which read: “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.”
Son was quick to accept Bentancur’s apology and said: “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.”
Bentancur could face a ban or receive a fine for the charge, but he WILL be able to face Arsenal this weekend.
The midfielder has made two Premier League appearances for Tottenham so far this season.
He was absent from Ange Postecoglou‘s squad for last month’s match against Everton due to a head injury sustained against Leicester in the opening game of the campaign.
Spurs could decide to line up with Bentancur in central midfield and Son on the left on Sunday against Arsenal.
NOTHING stays the same forever.
And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.
Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.
Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.
There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.
Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25.
