Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur has been suspended for seven matches after the Uruguayan made a racist remark about the South Koreans while talking about teammate Son Heung-min during a television appearance, it was announced on Monday the Football Federation.

Bentancur had denied the accusation, but an independent regulatory commission found it proven and imposed the sanctions, which include a fine of 100,000 pounds ($126,160).

The FA said in a statement that the midfielder “acted inappropriately and/or used abusive and/or insulting language and/or brought the match into disrepute.”

“It was further alleged that this constituted an ‘aggravated violation’… as it included a reference – express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin,” the statement added. .

In June, on the Uruguayan television show Por La Camiseta, host Rafa Cotelo asked Bentancur for a Spurs player’s jersey, to which he replied: “Sonny’s?” “, adding: “Or one of Sonny’s cousins ​​because they all look more or less the same. “

The FA first charged Bentancur, 27, in September, with Son saying later that month there was no bad feeling between the players. Bentancur apologized to Son in June after the short clip from the TV show was widely shared online.

“The player initially showed remorse and took responsibility for his actions and offered a full and (we have no doubt) sincere apology. In our view, this was greatly to his credit,” the statement said. commission in its written reasons.

“It is not to his credit that he subsequently chose to deny the accusation on grounds which, on their face, undermined this laudable initial reaction.”

Bentancur, who played in Uruguay’s 3-2 win over Colombia in the 2026 World Cup qualifier on Saturday, will still be available for Tottenham’s Europa League matches, but will not return to domestic competition until the 26th. December.

He will miss Premier League matches against Manchester City on Saturday as well as home clashes against Liverpool and Chelsea in December, among others. Bentancur will also miss the League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.