The English Football Association has rejected Tottenham Hotspur’s appeal to reduce midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur’s seven-match ban for making a racist remark about South Koreans, specifically targeting Spurs teammate Son Heung-min. The original ban was imposed after Bentancur made offensive comments on a Uruguayan television show in June, suggesting that all South Koreans are the same. Although Bentancur later apologized to Son, the FA upheld the ban, resulting in him missing crucial matches including the League Cup quarterfinal against Manchester United and a Premier League game against Liverpool. The independent commission concluded that Bentancur’s comments were abusive and insulting, despite his claims of sarcasm, and imposed a fine of $126,000. Tottenham’s appeal was dismissed after a hearing, with the FA revealing that Bentancur’s conduct was clearly deemed misconduct, even though he did not intend to offend Son or anyone else. The decision has sparked controversy and has highlighted the ongoing issue of racism in football. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of combating racism at all levels of the sport to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all players and fans.
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Tottenham’s appeal over Bentancur’s ban for racist comment about South Koreans denied
