"Son Heung-min Racism" Bentancur Likely to Face Severe Punishment... Expected 7-Match Suspension

Regulations on Suspension for 6 to 12 Matches for Racial Discrimination Incidents

Rodrigo Bentancur, a Tottenham teammate who sparked controversy by making racially discriminatory remarks against Son Heung-min (Tottenham), is expected to face severe disciplinary action.

On the 13th (local time), the British Daily Mail reported that Bentancur is likely to receive a heavy punishment, with a strong possibility of a 7-match suspension. However, if Bentancur is unable to play for 7 matches, Tottenham will have to endure without Bentancur until just before the busy Boxing Day schedule at the end of the year. Tottenham, having recorded 5 wins, 1 draw, and 5 losses in 11 matches of the 2024-2025 English Premier League (EPL), has fallen to 11th place and urgently needs to bounce back.

Sports media outlet The Athletic also reported that although no specific duration was mentioned, the Tottenham club expects Bentancur to receive a 'long-term suspension.' In fact, the English Football Association (FA) disciplinary committee's regulations specify a suspension of 6 to 12 matches for individual players involved in racial discrimination.

Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Bentancur, who is from Uruguay, sparked controversy with remarks related to Son Heung-min during an appearance on a national broadcast program last June. When the program host asked him to 'get Son Heung-min's jersey,' Bentancur said, "Even if you bring me Son Heung-min's cousin's jersey, I wouldn't know. Son Heung-min and his cousin look exactly the same." This was a racially discriminatory remark stemming from the perception that 'all East Asians look alike.'

After the remarks caused controversy, Bentancur faced harsh criticism from fans. Eventually, he posted an apology to Son Heung-min on his social media. He said, "Sonny, I'm sorry for everything that happened. It was a bad joke. I love you. You know I would never disrespect you or hurt anyone else. Love you." However, many criticized Bentancur's apology. He spelled Son Heung-min's nickname as 'SONY' instead of 'SONNY,' and the apology automatically disappeared after 24 hours, leading to questions about its sincerity.

The anti-racism football organization 'Kick It Out' also raised concerns about this incident. Kick It Out stated, "We know that Bentancur has admitted to discriminatory behavior, but this highlights a widespread issue that has a significant impact on East Asia and the broader community," adding, "We will continue to address these topics in the upcoming season."